Kameisha Bennett finished third, but because she had not met the Olympic "A" standard of two minutes, fourth-place finisher Nicole Teter earned the third Olympic spot.
Bennett was one of the four runners who tumbled to the track in Saturday's semifinal, along with Teter, Becky Horn and LaTavia Thomas, the former West Catholic star.
Rhines makes final. Villanova graduate Jen Rhines, an Olympic marathoner in 2004, finished second in her preliminary of the women's 5,000 meters and will advance to Friday's final.
Rhines' heat was won by Kara Goucher in 15:32.22. Rhines was next at 15:32.31 and Arianna Lambie third (15:32.56).
Oregon's big moment. The Hayward Field crowd exploded last night when a trio of Oregon runners charged from behind to take the three Olympic spots in the men's 800-meter final.
Nick Symmonds of the Oregon Track Club Elite won in 1:44.10. University of Oregon sophomore Andrew Wheating was second (1:45.03) and Christian Smith, a teammate of Symmonds, finished third (1:45.47).
Three-time national champion Khadevis Robinson was a disappointing fourth. He and fifth-place finisher Lopez Lomong tangled up as they lunged for the finish line and fell. Lopez said he was considering filing a protest.
"I felt in great shape coming into this championship," Robinson said. "But I just didn't have anything in the tank."
Clay wins decathlon. Bryan Clay, the silver medalist at the 2004 Games, won the decathlon, compiling the highest score by an American in 16 years.
Clay, 28, whose 2007 season was marred by injuries, won the javelin (231 feet, 5 inches) and discus (173 feet). He finished with a personal-best total of 8,832 points, an Olympic trials record. Only Dan O'Brien has ever scored higher.
