SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ? Former Kansas University distance runner Charlie Gruber placed second in the 1,500-meter run Sunday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

Gruber finished in 3:38.45, second to Alan Webb’s time of 3:36.13. But Gruber’s runner-up finish has not yet guaranteed the 25-year-old Denver native a spot in the Athens Games because he hasn’t established an “A standard” qualifying time of 3:36.0.

Gruber, who has until Aug. 9 to achieve the standard, has run a season-best time of 3:37.23.

“I’m excited for Charlie. Strategically, he ran a perfect race today,” KU track coach Stanley Redwine said. “Once Webb pulled ahead, it was a race for second place, and he did a great job positioning himself for second.

“Now, Charlie will go to Europe,” Redwine added. “There are several meets he can participate in — races every two to three days. I’m quite sure he can make it.”

Webb won the race with a 55-second third lap. He sprinted the first 100 meters of that lap — a world-class surge that brought a roar from the crowd and left his U.S. competitors in the dust.

“I guess I was a little surprised at how strong and decisive the move was,” Gruber said. “I’ve never had anyone move on me like that.”

KU assistant track coach Doug Reynolds placed fifth in the discus Sunday with a throw of 198 feet, 5 inches. The top three finishers with the A standard qualified for the Athens Games.

Jarred Rome (215-9), Ian Waltz (212-3) and Casey Malone (211-6) placed 1-2-3. Reynolds fouled on four of his six throws, his top throw his first.

KU’s Leo Bookman, who placed 11th in the 200 semifinals Saturday, has run his last race at Kansas. Bookman, who has a year of outdoor eligibility remaining, now is running for Nike.

“I think Leo ran a heck of a race,” Redwine said of Bookman, who had a time of 20.66. “Leo has a bright future.”