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Later in the week, talk about the upcoming Reebok Boston Indoor Games will center on names like Dibaba and Defar, Mottram and Cragg, or Webb and Brannen. Before they take center stage, it's worth spending a few minutes on another race which might be a headline at some meets.
The men's 800m at this Saturday's meet includes the second, third, fourth and sixth finishers from the final at last summer's USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. At the top of that list is Nick Symmonds, a seven-time NCAA Division III champion at Willamette University who hadn't lost a championship 800m final until Indianapolis, where he ran 1:45.83 to finish second behind Khadevis Robinson.
Since Indianapolis, Symmonds has relocated from his hometown of Boise, Idaho to Eugene, Oregon to train with Coach Frank Gagliano and the newly-formed Oregon Track Club Elite training group. Several months of full-time training with "Gags" and—at last—teammates who could push him in a workout led Symmonds to a 3:56.72 mile on the indoor track at the University of Washington on January 13. "At Willamette, toward the end, I had to do workouts on my own, which was very physically and mentally taxing. Out here I can jump in with a group of guys. I thought I could get under 4:00, but to run 3:56 was a surprise."
Symmonds' first time under 4:00 was also his first-ever indoor track race; Willamette doesn't run an indoor track season. Since UW's track is oversized and unbanked, this will be Symmonds' first race on a 200m banked track. Still, Symmonds is eager to bring in his 1:45 personal best and match it against the 1:47.92 event record, set 10 years ago by Rich Kenah. "We've been doing work to get my speed up, to make moves on those tight turns. I think I have a short, powerful stride that will help me out indoors." Kenah, who now works for meet organizers Global Athletics and Marketing, went on to win a bronze medal at the World Championships in Athens that summer.
This could sound like bravado coming from a first-year pro fresh out of Division III, but from Symmonds it sounds like nothing more dangerous than enthusiasm. "What it comes down to is that it's a great experience for me because I come to races so hungry. I believe I can run with these guys and know I can run with them. It's a matter of proving to myself and others that I can do it, and being ready to do that."
Symmonds talked to reporters by teleconference on Tuesday. He will face former World Indoor champion David Krummenacker, former U.S. champion Derrick Peterson, former NCAA Division I champion Sam Burley, Jebreh Harris, and Kenyan Justus Koech over 800m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday.
Posted by Parker Morse at 9:34 p.m. | Tags: Athlete Features, Event Previews
Julie --Not a fan commented, on December 16, 2007 at 5:02 p.m.:
Nick Symmonds is no home-town hero. I would be more impressed with Nick if he was not such a party-animal. He makes all of his close neighbors in Springfield Oregon angry every time he has a party. Last night (12-15-07) he took it to the street, leaving beer, etc. everywhere. Check out the Springfield, Oregon Police blog. There have been many complaints lodged. Can someone make this kid grow up?