U.S. Olympic Trials champion Nick Symmonds opened his outdoor season yesterday on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Ore., clocking 1:46.25 for 800m. His was just one of four elite events incorporated into the Nike Mile, a series of track races held for Nike employees.
"I wasn't really sure because I've only done one or two speed sessions," Symmonds told RunnerSpace.com in a video interview. "I was injured for most of March and part of April, so my training is a little bit behind where it was last year. My goal was just to come out here and open up in 52, and if I felt comfortable, close in 54."
Kara Goucher doubled in the 800m and the mile; the races were held just 15 minutes apart. Finishing fourth behind Briton Jemma Simpson, who ran 2:02.93, Goucher clocked a personal best 2:06.79. She then finished a close second in the mile to training partner and Olympic 10,000m teammate Amy Begley. Goucher clocked 4:37.58, just 4/100ths behind Begley.
"I was really happy with that," Goucher said to RunnerSpace.com about her 800m personal best. "I came back to run the mile, and I thought it would feel really easy. I wanted to run 4:35. I almost bailed with a lap to go I felt so bad."
Steeplechaser Tom Brooks won the elite mile in 3:59.31 and was the only man to break four minutes.
Videos of all the races, including athlete interviews, can be viewed at RunnerSpace.com.
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