| Symmonds wins 800 again |
| 29 June 2009 | |||
|
For the Gazette-Times Nick Symmonds drew on a little more Hayward Field magic Sunday to win another 800-meter title. Holding off a charging Khadevis Robinson in the homestretch, Symmonds backed up his 2008 Olympic Trials win with a victory in the U.S. Track and Field Championships. Robinson, a four-time national champion indoors and outdoors, came up to Symmonds’ side, within a half-stride with about 50 meters to go. But Symmonds had just enough for the win, finishing in 1 minute, 45.86 seconds. Robinson was second in 1:45.97. “I run to race, and I race for championships,” said Symmonds, a former three-time collegiate national champion at Willamette University. “Times don’t mean a whole lot to me. I just like to race.” Former Washington runner Ryan Brown was third in 1:46.67 to fill out the U.S. team in the event for the world championships in Berlin in August. Christian Smith, who beat out Robinson for the third and final Olympic qualifying spot at last year’s Trials as both dived for the finish line, was fourth at 1:46.92. Symmonds took the lead into a headwind with about 250 meters remaining, a little earlier than he had hoped, because the pace had slowed and he didn’t want to lose his momentum. Karjuan Williams, the race leader to that point, held off Symmonds until the 150 mark, when Symmonds took off. Symmonds, competing for Oregon Track Club Elite and training in Eugene, pulled away until Robinson started to gain ground in the final 100. He saw an orange Nike jersey and knew it was Robinson or Smith. From there, he gave it all he had. “I’m not used to KD coming up alongside me in the last 100, so that was kind of surprising,” Symmonds said. View complete article at http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2009/06/29/sports/northwest/7nw01_track062909.txt
|
