Nick Symmonds Goes Wire to Wire to Win 800 at Zurich Weltklasse
by: LetsRun.com
August 29, 2013
Nick Symmonds is not known for his front running but he was way was up front in this one throughout as the early pace was not super quick (24.6, 50.52) and Nick took advantage of that.
The rabbit, Bram Som, stayed in the race through 600m (1:16.91) and Nick was with him. Nick hit the final straight ahead of 4th placer at Worlds Marcin Lewandowski and remained in front until the line which he reached in 1:43.56, Lewandowski was second in 1:43.79.
Ferguson Cheruiyot of Kenya moved up at the end to catch USAs Duane Solomon for third.
It was the second win for Symmonds this week over Lewandowski.
QT: Symmonds is running with great confidence right now and certainly looks like the #2 guy in the World. Hopefully, he shows up next week in Brussels and takes on Mo Aman in the DL 800 finale.
Symmonds is in supreme form. Coming into the year, he’d broken 1:44 six times in his career. He’s done if four times this year including in two of his last three races.
QT #2: 24.6 might be a little quick for Nick the first 200m, but 50.5 is not. Nick has a great sense of pace and runs that same pace most races. His position at 200m is often determined by others in the race.
The finish
QT #3: Duane Solomon didn’t run his normal race here. He went out too fast for the first 200 in the final at Worlds, but here he seemingly tried to “pull a Symmonds” and come from behind. It will be interesting to find out if he just wasn’t feeling well or if he was trying a new tactic out as at 600 he was in third probably 7-8 meters behind Symmonds who had 2-3 meters on Lewandowski.
QT #4: Brandon Johnson was last in this one but that doesn’t dampen what he’s done this year. What a season. If you didn’t see our post-worlds interview with him it’s here. It was one of our favorite interviews and Johnson said to watch out for him in 2014.
Messageboard talk about this race: MB: SYMMONDS 1:43.56 FTW in Zurich, out in 50.52.
Nick Symmonds Wins Again
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1
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USA
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1:43.56
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2
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POL
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1:43.79
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PB
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3
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KEN
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1:44.39
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4
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USA
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1:44.49
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5
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KEN
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1:44.87
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6
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GBR
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1:45.34
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7
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GBR
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1:45.80
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8
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KEN
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1:46.86
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9
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USA
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1:47.95
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NED
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DNF
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Nick Symmonds up front at 400
Approaching 600