Global pursuit Symmonds and a handful of area athletes run onto the world stage.Byline: Curtis Anderson The Register-Guard After five races on the European Grand Prix This article is about Formula One race. For other uses, see European Grand Prix (disambiguation). The European Grand Prix is a separate Formula One event that was reintroduced during the mid-1980s and was held regularly from 1993 to 2006. track and field circuit this summer, Nick Symmonds Nick Symmonds is regarded as one of the U.S.'s top 800m and 1,500m runners.[1] The Willamette University graduate won the 800 and 1,500m NCAA championship race as a freshman, junior, and senior. is ready for the ultimate test. The Oregon Track Club Elite runner steps onto the IAAF IAAF abbr. International Amateur Athletic Federation World Championships stage in Osaka, Japan, this week as one of three Americans eager to earn a medal in the 800 meters for the first time since 1997. `My goal is to make the final,' said Symmonds via e-mail. `It's anyone's race once you're there.' Symmonds, 23, cemented his `hometown hero' status with the Hayward Field For other uses of "Hayward", see Hayward (disambiguation). Hayward Field at University of Oregon is one of the most well-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. It has been the home to the University of Oregon Track and Field teams since 1919. crowd last June with a thrilling, personal-best performance of 1 minute, 44.54 seconds in winning the 800 at the Prefontaine Classic The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. History The first annual Prefontaine Classic took place in 1974. . Since that race, he earned a spot on the U.S. team that will compete in Japan by placing second at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis for the second straight season. Then, it was off to Europe, where Symmonds ran twice in Italy with disappointing results as he attempted to shake off the effects of jet lag jet lag Period of adjustment of biological rhythm after moving from one time zone to another, experienced as fatigue and lowered efficiency. It reflects a delay in the synchronization of changes in the level of blood cortisol, the major steroid produced by the adrenal cortex . He bounced back from those performances by posting the second-best time of his career (1:45.06) with a third-place finish Noun 1. third-place finish - a finish in third place (as in a race) finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the winner is the team with the in Madrid, captured his first European Grand Prix title in Belgium, and was fifth at a final tune-up meet in Belgium, watching in wonderment as Alan Webb clocked a winning time of 1:43.84. Symmonds believes it will take a similar time to win gold in Osaka. `I expect the finals to be won in 1:43-something,' he said. `There is always the chance that it will be a tactical race, but given how talented all the athletes are here, I expect it to be fast. An American has not been in a world or Olympic final in many years. However, if myself, or Duane (Solomon) or Khadevis (Robinson) do make it through the rounds, I like our chances at a medal.' Symmonds is one of a handful of local athletes competing in Japan. Oregon junior Galen Rupp and Dathan Ritzenhein, who moved to Eugene this past spring, are both entered in the 10,000; OTC OTC See: Over-the-counter. OTC See over-the-counter market (OTC). Elite's Tom Brooks will run the 3,000-meter steeplechase steeplechase Either of two distinct sporting events: (1) a horse race over a closed course with obstacles, including hedges and walls; or (2) a footrace of 3,000 m over hurdles and a water jump. ; new Eugene resident Jesse Williams is in the high jump, and former Duck Niki McEwen will compete in the pole vault. So what are their chances in Japan? To answer that question, we contacted Dev Sinha, an associate professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. . Sinha is the two-time defending champion of a fantasy track and field league that is based on results from the Grand Prix circuit Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing computer game released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC. It was first released in 1987 by Accolade. For PC, it was released in 1988[1]. , including the Pre Classic. The seven league members are all former track athletes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, in Boston. Sinha, who ran track and cross country at MIT MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1989-91, competed in the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996 as a graduate student at Stanford. He has participated in the MIT fantasy track league since 1991. He moved to Eugene in 2001, citing the combination of `world-class research and first-rate teaching' at Oregon as the main attraction, although living in Track Town, USA Track Town, USA, a popular nickname for Eugene, Oregon, is widely known as the mecca for the sport of track and field in the United States. The home of the University of Oregon (UO), Eugene is considered by some to be the capital of the running world. was an `added draw.' Sinha said none of the Eugene athletes were chosen in the fantasy league's draft held last May, but both Symmonds and Williams were picked up in the supplemental `bench' part of the draft, and have remained on their team's active rosters for most of the summer, scoring points at different meets. His quick `market-based' analysis of the local performers: `Symmonds and Williams are the only two athletes on teams and scoring fantasy league points,' Sinha said. `Thus, we expect them to be in contention for medals and do not expect the other athletes to be so.' When asked to analyze and forecast the medal winners in each of the events involving local athletes for The Register-Guard, Sinha showed his `sentimental' side by picking Symmonds to take second in the 800, despite his relative inexperience in racing at this level. In the high jump, he predicted a bronze medal for Williams, another somewhat subjective choice, given the fact that Sinha completed a trade for the former USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. standout just last Monday. Sinha's medal picks for Osaka are published alongside the online predictions of the editors of Track & Field News magazine. While NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. and cable network Versus both plan delayed broadcast coverage of the world championships, for $4.95, you can watch live streaming video from Japan on your computer. Log on to wcsn.com for details. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Today through Sept. 2, Osaka, Japan MEDAL PREDICTIONS Forecast/analysis of events involving local athletes by Dev Sinha, associate professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon, and two-time defending champion in MIT alumni rotisserie track and field league based on IAAF Grand Prix circuit results (http://borel.slu.edu/rotiss/). Online predictions from Track & Field News magazine (www.trackandfieldnews.com). MEN'S 800 Track & Field News Gold - Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Russia Silver - Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, South Africa Bronze - Wilfred Bungei, Kenya UO professor Dev Sinha: Gold - Wilfred Bungei, Kenya Silver - Nick Symmonds, USA Bronze - Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, South Africa Sinha's analysis: With no rabbits at the world championships, chaos ensues. Everyone wants to let other runners do the work at the front, and kick for the win. The runners at the front then tend to slow down so they are not doing so much more work, making it even more a kicker's race. This year, the 800 has been wide-open. A number of top runners, including our own Nick Symmonds, have won races. Over the past four years, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa and Wilfred Bungei of Kenya have been the clear top two runners, but neither has won a world championship or Olympic gold. Instead, championship races tend to go to kickers such as 2004 Olympic gold medalist Yuriy Borzakovskiy. In Osaka, expect the unexpected, especially in the early rounds. Some top runners will not make it through the first round. The good news for Symmonds is that his `stay back and kick' style is favored. As a sentimental pick, I'll take Symmonds for second place, and go with Bungei for first and Mulaudzi for third. But really, it's anyone's guess among the top runners. Timetable: Thursday, heats; Friday, semifinals; Sept. 2, final. |
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