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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Nick Symmonds: Experience
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 19)

Posted August 25th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Nick Symmonds

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

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

It is August 24th and I have just finished packing my bags. I am about to leave China and fly to Europe for a few races, and I cant help but think back on all the incredible experiences Ive had over the last 17 days. Of course, there was a huge amount of disappointment thrown in there, but ultimately I just have to chalk another one up to inexperience and keep believing that I CAN run with these guys. With one more international championship under my belt I am that much closer to being the runner I know I can be and with determination and hard work I will make more teams and have more shots at World/Olympic medals. OK, now that Ive reaffirmed that, Id like nothing more than to share my experience at the 2008 Olympic Games!

Flying out here was a bit tedious but we had VIP treatment all the way. The highlight of the first few days was, of course, the Opening Ceremonies. It was awesome to see all the other track athletes, meet other USA Olympians from other teams, as well as President Bush and Lebron James among others!
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Nick Symmonds:
Off to Beijing!
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 18)

Posted August 11th, 2008 at 10:29 AM by Nick Symmonds

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

Note: The following entry was written on August 6th, just prior to Nick’s flight to Beijing. His next entry will be written on Sunday, August 24th and published the following morning on Monday, August 25th.

I’m currently in a dorm at San Jose State getting ready for bed early because I’m waking up at 6 AM to catch a flight to Beijing, China to compete in my first Olympic Games. Its hard to believe myself. The last month has been amazing; Ive put in many miles and had a lot of good workouts including one of the best speed-endurance sessions of my life yesterday. I woke up at 6:30 this morning to sneak in one last run on American soil.

The dorm I’m staying in is apartment style and sharing the rooms with
me are Andrew Wheating, Christian Smith, Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, and Matt Tegenkamp among others. Its literally a whose-who of track and field and I suppose you would expect nothing less from the USA Olympic Track and Field team. Watching all of us go through team processing today you would have guessed our average age to be about 8 as we ran around filling shopping carts with the amazing team gear issued to each Olympian. It was literally Christmas in August.
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Nick Symmonds:
Conventional Wisdom
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 17)

Posted July 28th, 2008 at 11:44 AM by Nick Symmonds

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

Its July 15th as I sit on my couch in Springfield, Oregon and write this blog. To people who follow my race schedule closely that might seem a bit strange as I was on the start list for the meet in Luzern Switzerland tomorrow. I was actually scheduled to race again next week in Belgium and in London on the 25th as well. Unfortunately, I will not be running in any of these meets. I spent all spring looking forward to my trip to Europe and imagined running a 1:43 or two as I prepared to compete in China, but after the amazing experience of the trials I was left physically and emotionally drained. The combination of training, doing interviews, signing autographs and cheering on my teammates in the second session was simply too much. My usual perfect schedule that includes nine hours of sleep each night, regular meals, and naps in the afternoon was thrown for a total loop. By day 8 of the trials I was running on an average of about 5 hours of sleep and had lost 6 pounds. In training I felt worn out.
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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

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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Symmonds Comes From Behind to Lead Oregon Sweep in 800m Final

Posted July 1st, 2008 at 1:26 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Image details: U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials - Day Four served by picapp.com

The Men’s 800m final at the 2008 US Olympic Trials delivered on its promise as one of the most competitive races of the meet. Willamette grad, OTC runner, and TheFinalSprint.com Elite Athlete Blogger Nick Symmonds won the race in a blistering 1:44.10 and was followed by Oregon’s Andrew Wheating (1:45.03) and OTC member Christian Smith (1:45.47). The three will represent the US in Beijing as all three ran under the Olympic A standard of 1:46.00.

Tonight’s race began with four time National champ Khadevis Robinson leading the field through a brisk first lap. The field was still tightly bunched at that point with Symmonds and Wheating notably lurking in the back. 2004 Olympic Trials champion Jonathon Johnson came up on Robinson at the halfway point and continued to push the pace, with Lopez Lomong and USC’s Duane Solomon also in the mix. With 200m to go, Robinson continued to lead and it appeared that Symmonds was badly boxed in the back. Symmonds patiently waited and exploded through a small gap with about 150 to go, catapulting past the field and flying down the home stretch to an impressive victory.

Meanwhile Andrew Wheating (a college sophomore at UO and the NCAA runner-up, who just three years ago was pursuing a soccer career) was putting together a late-race kick of his own. Wheating went by the rest of the field on the outside and was a convincing second behind Symmonds. Finally, the third spot came down to an incredible battle between Smith, Robinson, Lomong, and Solomon. Christian Smith literally dove over the finish line to nab the last Olympic spot over the also diving Khadevis Robinson.
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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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Nick Symmonds: Anticipation
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 15)

Posted June 17th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Nick Symmonds

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

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner 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: www.nicksymmonds.com

Ive always tried to keep my mind focused on my most immediate competition and generally to keep it from drifting towards thoughts of other upcoming races. I find that if I get caught up in thinking about the Trials or the Olympics or any other race, I’m distracted from the
nearest challenge and the valuable opportunities it may present to learn and grow as an athlete.

So now, with my last race before the trails out of the way, I am finally free to let my mind focus on what I need to do in the prelims. At this point there is not a whole lot more I can do to build my strength and only a little more sharpening to do on the speed side. Really, I am just going to try and get as much rest as I can and make sure that on June 27th my legs are as fresh as possible. I know now that the most important thing I can do to be prepared is to just take care of my body and do my best to ensure that nothing tragic happens.
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Walker breaks AR, Mutola wins for 16th time at Nike Prefontaine Classic

Posted June 8th, 2008 at 11:34 PM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

prefontaine classic 2008 poster Meet records fell across all event groups, none bigger than Brad Walker’s American record in the pole vault, and Maria Mutola had a historic exit Sunday at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.

The fourth event of USATF’s Visa Championship Series, the Nike Prefontaine Classic drew a meet-record 14,221 fans to Hayward Field, site of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field June 27-July 6. They were treated to a formidable show, including no fewer than eight meet records and Walker’s AR.

The 2007 world champion, Walker looked magnificent throughout the competition. He had just one miss, at his opening height of 5.70m/18-8.25, then passed to 5.90m/19-4.25, which he cleared on his first attempt and which won the competition for him. Walker then elevated the bar to 6.04m/19-9.75. On his very first attempt, he cleared, brushing the bar just a bit, but leaving it up.
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