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Lead Stories: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Nick Symmonds:
Conventional Wisdom
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 17)

Posted July 15th, 2008 at 11:44 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

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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Team USA Roster Set for Beijing Olympics

Posted July 14th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

USA Track & Field released its Olympic squad today, and the experienced team, which includes 15 Olympic and 31 outdoor World Championships medalists, will be amongst the strongest in Beijing.

“This Olympic Team is one of our strongest ever, with more medal-winning experience in a wider range of events, from sprints to distances and field events, than we’ve had in many decades,” said USATF President and acting CEO Bill Roe in a prepared statement.
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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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Lagat Wins 1500m Final; Webb Misses Out on Beijing

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 10:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

The Men’s 1500m at the 2008 US Olympic Trials was billed as a showdown of America’s finest milers and certainly didn’t disappoint. Much of the attention leading up to the race was given to reigning World Champion Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb (the American Record holder in the mile), and former national champion Gabe Jennings. Five runners (Webb, Lagat, Leonel Manzano, Lopez Lomong, and Jon Rankin) achieved the Olympic A standard in previous races, while the rest of the field needed it in this meet to get to Beijing. The US team in each event is made up of the top three Trials finishers who have attained the A standard in the Trials or in a previous race, meaning that the five runners mentioned above could focus on place while the rest of the field needed to watch the clock as well.

The race got out to a fast start in the first 100m with double World Champion Bernard Lagat reaching the pole first. Lagat immediately slowed the pace, bunching up the field and causing a lot of pushing and jostling right behind him. With the A standard already slipping away, Gabe Jennings took the lead at the 300m mark (reached in 47s) and picked up the pace. The field reached the 400m mark in 1:01 and the 800m mark in 2:00.70 as Jennings continued to lead but wasn’t able to make up time on the standard.
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Felix, Lee, Hooker Earn Tickets to Beijing in 200m

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 9:45 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

Allyson Felix was almost preordained to win the 200-meteres but in track and field everyone has learned that anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed. She did not feel the pressure mounting after she failed to qualify in the 100-meters for the Olympic Team.

Why?

Because Allyson Felix is that cold of a 200-meter runner.

“I’m just happy to win and make the team because I can fine tune now,” said Felix. “My start wasn’t great and it really never is great but my strength is really coming down the stretch. I’ve been relaxing and waiting for the last couple days for the final today.”
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Dix, Crawford, and Spearmon Top Standings in Gay-less 200m Final

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 9:29 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

The 200-meters was a wide open race for any of the talented sprinters to win in the absence of Tyson Gay. Who would have thought that the race would be so fast that Rodney Martin would put down 19.90 and not make the team even without Gay in the race? Well it certainly happened that way today.

Coming off the turn Shawn Crawford looked like the runner of old as he lead the pack over the first 100 meters of the race. The 2004 Olympic champion held the lead until Walter Dix closed the gap in the final 5 meters to win at the finish line by the slightest of margins.

Wallace Spearmon was deep in the pack coming off the turn and his chances to make the team were not looking good and then he began picking off runners with a massive kick that resulted in a third place finish and the last spot of the 200-meter team heading to Beijing.
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Jones Runs Fastest American 100m Hurdles Time in All Conditions

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 9:26 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

1 Lolo Jones Asics 12.29
2 Damu Cherry Nike 12.58
3 Dawn Harper unattached 12.62
4 Nichole Denby adidas 12.62
5 Candice Davis unattached 12.66
6 Virginia Powell Nike 12.74
7 Joanna Hayes Nike 12.96
– Kellie Wells Nike DNS
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Oliver, Trammell, Payne Captain USA Squad for Men’s 110m Hurdles

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 9:00 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

1 David Oliver Nike 12.95
2 Terrence Trammell Mizuno 13.00
3 David Payne Nike 13.25
4 Aries Merritt Reebok 13.27
5 Antwon Hicks adidas 13.33
6 Andrew Brunson Florida State 13.43
7 Ty Akins Auburn 13.82
8 Anwar Moore Nike 16.64
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Rowbury, Donohue, and Wurth-Thomas Are Beijing-Bound in the 1500m

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 8:27 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

Shannon Rowbury, Erin Donohue and Christin Wurth-Thomas made the U.S. Olympic Team today in the women’s 1500-meter finals.

Treniere Clement led the race through the first 400 meters in 68.17 seconds. Wurth-Thomas and Rowbury then took the lead around 500 meters. Lindsey Gallo pulled to the front at 800 meters in 2:15.73, but could not hold off Rowbury and Wurth-Thomas.

Rowbury then opened a huge gap to break away from the pack.

“I had a few plans depending on how the race went with the wind, but I just tried to stay relaxed and tried to drive through the finish,” Rowbury said.
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Lolo Jones, David Oliver Advance to Hurdles Final

Posted July 6th, 2008 at 8:00 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

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

In the women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals heat, Lolo Jones ran 12.45, to equal the stadium record held by Jamaica’s Brigittee Foster-Hylton.

The other heat winner was Damu Cherry (12.48), and the 2004 Olympic champion Joanna Hayes took third in the heat with 12.68.

In the men’s 100m hurdles semi-finals, The first false start charged to the field and the second false start which resulted in the disqualification of Dexter Faulk was not enough to shake the focus of David Oliver. Running out of Lane 3, Oliver posted the fourth fastest time ever run under any conditions. The +3.2 wind, kept the time from being a new Olympic Trials record.

Don’t take your eyes off the veteran Terrence Trammell. Looking sharp in the second heat, the World Championship silver medalist won his heat in 13.08.
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