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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Nick Symmonds: Olympian
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 16)

Posted July 8th, 2008 at 5:15 PM by Nick Symmonds

Section: Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds, College

Welcome to the official blog of middle-distance track star and 2008 U.S. Olympian Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: nicksymmonds.com

I can hardly believe it myself. After dreaming about this for most of my life and specifically devoting two years towards this goal, I can finally call myself an Olympic athlete. The last 48 hours have been unreal and I would very much like to share with you what has been going on, but first I need to talk about how I arrived at this point in my career.

Growing up in Boise I was blessed with an amazing family that made me want for nothing. I had love from my sister and parents and they supported me in any goal I set for myself, but more importantly made me believe I could accomplish these goals. When I told them that I would one day like to be an Olympian they just smiled and said, “then do it.” When other people laughed or doubted they just kept smiling, almost as if they knew it was destined to be. They have made this possible and of the 20,000 people at Hayward Monday night I don’t think any were as happy and proud as they were. Mom, Dad, Lauren: I LOVE YOU!!!
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Pile-Up in Women’s 800m Sends 12 Athletes To Final

Posted June 29th, 2008 at 8:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Image details: AT&T USA Outdoor Track And Field Championships - Day 2 served by picapp.com

On a blazing hot day here, a pile-up about 250 meters into yesterday’s first heat of the women’s 800m semi-finals at these U.S. Olympic Trials sent four women tumbling to the track, splitting the field, and initially crushing some long-held Olympic dreams.

“I remember getting grabbed then getting physical with someone,” said Nikeya Green who finished third in a race where only the top-4 finishers would qualify for the final. “I don’t know. It wasn’t my fault, but it just kind of happened.”

Just behind Green, Kameisha Bennett, Latavia Thomas and Becky Horn fell hard. Nicole Teter (Pictured above) then went down as she tried to jump over the pile-up.
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Symmonds Takes Inside Lane to Win Men’s 800 Semifinal

Posted June 28th, 2008 at 8:45 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: Announcements

Two of the nation’s top 800-meter runners, Nick Symmonds and Khadevis Robinson, each won their heat in the semifinal round of the U.S. Olympic Trials.

In the first heat, Robinson ran a 1:46.14, followed by Oregon’s Andrew Wheating (1:46.23) and Jonathan Johnson (1:46.28). Jebreh Harris was the last to qualify with 1:46.29).

Symmonds gave the crowd a good show, running in the back of the pack and then making his move with his signature finishing kick. His time of 1:45.61 was the fastest of the semifinals. Duane Solomon (1:45.82) Christian Smith (1:46.02), and Lopez Lomong (1:46.16). University of Texas runner Jacob Hernandez just missed qualifying with 1:46.16.
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Lomong, Symmonds and Wheating Win Men’s 800m Prelim Heats

Posted June 27th, 2008 at 11:45 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

The men’s 800-meter Olympic Trial prelims brought the crowd to their feet. In the first heat, 2004 Olympian Jonathan Johnson took the lead early, passing through 400 meters in 53.23 seconds. The race intensified in the final lap as Lopez Lomong, also a favorite in the 1500, dominated the race in 1:46.91. Sam Burley was right behind Lomong in 1:47.02, followed by Duane Solomon in 1:47.35. One of the favorites, Khadevis Robinson, surprisingly placed sixth in 1:48.04.

Oregon fans roared as Oregon Track Club athletes Nick Symmonds (Pictured) and Matt Scherer raced in the second heat of the men’s 800-meter prelims. Symmonds won in 1:49.01 and Scherer was fourth in 1:49.38. Ryan Brown (1:49.20) and Jebreh Harris (1:49.21) were between Symmonds and Scherer.

University of Oregon runner Andrew Wheating excited the crowd with his 1:47.85 win in the third heat of the men’s 800 meters, followed by Oregon Track Club runner Christian Smith (1:47.97). University of Texas star Jacob Hernandez led the first half, but finished third in 1:48.01.
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Stadium Record & NCAA 10,000m Title for Koll

Posted June 13th, 2008 at 9:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, College

Hometown favorite Lisa Koll, the American collegiate 10,000m record holder from Iowa State University, shattered the Drake Stadium record here tonight to win the NCAA women’s 10,000m, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior Shadrack Songok successfully defended his NCAA men’s 10,000 crown. Both athletes had to contend with warm and humid conditions as the NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships concluded its second day.

Koll, who earlier this spring shattered the American Collegiate 10,000m record with a 32:11.13 at Stanford University, charged into the lead less than a lap into the race and proceeded to run away from the field, covering the first 1600m in 5:13 and 3200m in 10:25.

Behind her, a tightly bunched pack that included Stanford frosh Alex Gits, Providence’s Danette Doetzel, Boston University’s Marisa Ryan, Iowa’s Diane Nukuri, Arkansas’ Denise Bargiachi, Wisconsin’s Katrina Rundhaug, and several others battled for the medals and critical team points. At 3200, the chase pack was almost 30 seconds behind Koll.
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Obama Tries the Hurdles at Oregon Twilight

Posted May 10th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama visited the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field yesterday for the Oregon Twilight meeting.

In this short video by RunnerSpace’s Ross Krempley, you can see Obama take a stab at the hurdles:

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TFS News Briefs: 5/08/2008

Posted May 8th, 2008 at 10:45 AM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, TFS News Briefs

TFS News Briefs

Politics Rears Its Ugly Head
Political friction between Qatar and Ethioipia has resulted in a boycott by the Ethiopian federation of the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix meet. Indoor world champions Deresse Mekonnen (1500m) and Tariku Bekele (3000m) had been scheduled to run.
More: PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria

Instead…
of the Ethiopians, look for some superstars at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix meet. Jeremy Wariner will run the 200m, Allyson Felix will run the 400m and Blanca Vlasic will compete in the heptathlon. Just kidding, she’s sticking to what she knows - the high jump (with Wariner and Felix branching out from their usual events, I couldn’t resist!).
More: IHT

Where In The World Is…
Tuvalu? It’s a tiny island nation in Oceania located northeast of Australia. It boasts a population of 11,992 and a land area of 10 square miles. “So what?” you ask. Well, it is the newest member country of the IAAF, the world’s governing body of track & field, which now has a membership of 213.
More: Afrique en ligne, France
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