Olympic Trials: Day 4

It's back to action today (Thursday) after a couple of days at the beach and at home with the family. With as much fun as it is to be at the trials, I sure miss Melissa, Sydney and Hannah while I am gone. It was great to walk in to the beach house in Manzanita and have Sydney greet me with a big smile and hug! She certainly loves her dad...and dad certainly loves her...and all of them.

Before we get on to Thursday's action, I wanted to recap what happened on a very exciting night four on Monday...

Former Willamette University national champion Nick Symmonds crosses the line first in the 800 meters, earning his first trip to the Olympics. Andrew Wheating, left, finished second while a diving Christian Smith, right of Symmonds, was third to complete an Oregon sweep in the event. Photo courtesy of The Oregonian.

MIGHTY OREGON: The atmosphere when the introductions were made for the men's 800 meters equalled the decibel level you might at a Civil War football game or when UCLA visits Mac Court. The crowd was crazy loud when the local three: Nick Symmonds (of Willamette and now Oregon Track Club Elite), Andrew Wheating (Oregon) and Christian Smith (Oregon Track Club Elite) took the track.

The race played out much to game plan, but what wasn't neccesarily in the cards was the storybook finish. Symmonds, who spent much of the race in sixth place, issued a repeat performance of his come from behind sprint in the semifinals. Apparently boxed in with 100 meters to go, Symmonds again found a hole in lane one that gave him the room he needed to put it into high gear. He won the race, clocking a time of 1:44.10, and earning a trip to Beijing.

Wheating, meanwhile, was content to hang at the back of the eight-man pack for well over 500 meters before pulling off his now trademark come-from-behind finish. Almost as if mirroring Symmonds, Wheating pulled into lane four with 100 meters to go and literally reeled in the field. The Vermont transplant, who the Eugene faithful have adopted as their own, finished second in 1:45.03, and earned a somehwat unexpected trip to the Olympics.

Then there was Smith. One of last qualifiers allowed into the event, Smith entered into a neck-and-neck dual with favorite Khadevis Robinson (who entered the trials with the best U.S. time this season). At the line, Smith made an expected and contraversial dive to the line. It worked to his advantage as Smith finished third at 1:45.57 to Robinson's 1:45.53. Robinson was none too happy with the tactic, unloading a colorful tyraid on reporters as he crossed through the mixed zone.

During those two minutes, the crowd at Hayward Field could hardly stand still. The entire stadium stood as the runners came around the Bowerman Curve at 300 meters and didn't leave their feet until the three Oregon runners finished their victory lap around Hayward. A number of people have called that 800-meter race the defining moment of these "Eugene Trials." I would have to agree. As thrilling and important as Tyson Gay's 9.68 100 meters was on Sunday, the 800 provided the quintesential example of what Track Town USA is all about.

Ian Dobson (Klamath Union '00, on left), Bernard Lagat and Matt Tegenkamp at the postrace press conference following the men's 5000-meter final.

MIGHTY PELICANS: I have made it no secret that I remember racing against Ian Dobson in my days as a prep runner in Klamath Falls. Running in road races as an 11-year-old when I was a senior at Klamath Union, it is clear then that Ian had the potential to be something special as a runner.

Monday night, Ian was looking some redemption after a down couple of years on the international running scene. He qualified to run in the 5,000-meter final on Monday night, but entered the race with the 12th fastest time from the preliminaries. I was sure that he was going to have to run the race of his life to have a chance at qualifying for the Olympics.

If it wasn't the race of his life by time, it certainly was by effort and spirit. Ian spent most of the race anywhere between third and seventh place, usually finding himself at the back of the front pack. Then circumstances played their hand in his favor. Adam Goucher, considered a favorite in the race, dropped out with one lap to go after he noticed that he would not be able to run a Olympic "A" qualifying standard in the race. (Eight runners had met the standard. Adam was not one of them.)

That left overall favorite Bernard Lagat, a Kenyan transplant and Washington State University standout, in the lead, followed Matt Tegenkamp, Bolota Asmerom and Ian to battle it out in the final lap. Lagat quickly built a lead over by the 200 mark and clearly had the victory, leading Tegenkamp, Asmerom and Ian to battle it out. In the final 100 meters, Ian found just enough to edge past Asmerom and cross the tape in third, finishing in 13:29.76.

Ian joins a long list of distinguished Klamath Basin track Olmypians, which includes 1932 5000-meter silver medalist Ralph Hill and decathlon gold medalist Dan O'Brien. As someone who remembers Ian from way back win, I could not be prouder of him and hopes he represents the U.S. well in Beijing. I had a chance to congratulate Ian in the mixed zone after the race. While I am sure it meant nothing to him, to be able to shake his hand and congratulate him meant volumes to me. A connection from one Klamath Union Pelican to another.

FOLLOWING THE MEET: After an early dinner at 4:30, I was still hungry at the 11 p.m. conclusion of the day. So I journey across Franklin Blvd. to enjoy some Track Town Pizza and a brew. Soon find out that I have been circled around by a Nick Symmonds celebration party involving all of his closest family from Boise and friends. Hiding quietly at a nearby booth, with close friends, was second place finisher Andrew Wheating. The entire restaurant got a good laugh when Nick spotted him and yelled in fecitious surprise, "Look...it's Andrew Wheating!" The two posed from some pictures and clearly enjoyed the moment for both of them. They represent Oregon well.

WHAT TO WATCH THURSDAY: Finals take place tonight in the women's high jump, men's and women's 400 and the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. The men's 400 will feature favorite Jeremy Wariner, the defending Olympic 400 gold medalist. The women's race will feature Sanya Williams, who looks to complete an incredible comeback after missing much of 2007 to an illness, and Dee Dee Trotter, who won this event at last year's U.S. Championships. The women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, meanwhile, will mark the first time that the race will qualify individuals for the Olympics. Ran at Olympic Trials in the past for a U.S. championship, this is the first time that the event will be contested at the Olympic Games.

ON FRIDAY: Events do not begin until 5:30 p.m., allowing for a nice fireworks display after the men's 10,000 meters, which should finish aroung 9:50 p.m. Will likkely spend most of the day trying to get more done on my men's soccer media guide.