Calling It Now - Nick Symmonds Will Win Moscow 2013

Kitum didn't make the team - finished 4th or 5th in Kenyan trials; won't be there.

FFS, does anyone know is Symmonds is running Monaco?

i totally agree, brah.

according to symmonds, he ran his 1:43 at the trials without any 800 specific workouts.

brahs, once he starts putting in the lactate work and speed work, he will be lethal. no joke.

stuff you like to pee out wrote:

according to symmonds, he ran his 1:43 at the trials without any 800 specific workouts.

He only said that as an excuse for why he lost.

Symmonds sucks and will be lucky to make the final.

Symmonds will make the final, then run his typically horrible race to finish fifth. Again

Fluffy wrote:

He only said that as an excuse for why he lost.

Symmonds sucks and will be lucky to make the final.

symmonds don't lie, brah. he never lies. he is extremely passionate at what he does and works harder than any other runner in the US. no joke.

brah, he will make the final. and he will medal. the only question is what place he will be: 3rd, 2nd, or 1st?

This one is going to get really interesting with at least Rudy and Nijel not running due to injury. Mo Aman has looked very lethal this year and I would defiantely not rule out Duane at all.

If Timothy Kitum isn't running and Kaki isn't on form, I could definitely see Nick taking in a medal, but then again the 800 is still a crapshoot. One of the only times you have ever seen a lock for gold in this event was Rudisha last year.

In the lottery?

WOW2001 wrote:

Rudisha is gone. Aman is WAY over-raced this year. Amos Is hurt. Souleiman and Solomon will be his biggest competition. I can see Nick and Duane on the medal stand.

If Solomon is on, he'll win it.

Solomon medals.

Symmonds chickens out at 575m again and kicks well the last 100m to finish 5th, just behind Johnson.

10 bucks says Symmonds won't even be in the final.

I'll see your $10 and raise you $10

I think there is a pretty good chance that Symmonds will medal. Since he is consistent and the guys who minimize his chances are out, I predict that he will make it.

Yes. Go Nick.

Symmonds has learned his lesson with Solomon in not letting him get too far out front by beating him 1 week after us nats in edmonton. However, he does have a history of being too far back to matter late in the race. They both proved they can handle the rounds last year. The way I see it, there are a few guys who can win and the final tuneup races will show us a lot.

Symmonds - Must be top 4 with 200 to go to win and no more than 5m off the leader

Solomon - Must control the race from the front like Rudisha. Must go through in 49.x and keep the hammer down

Aman - Must handle the rounds better than he did last year and arrive to the final with something left. Otherwise he runs his normal race and wins, he is the favorite.

One of the Kenyans - You just never know with these guys. The first placer at the trials Chemut ran 143.9 in Nairobi last year. The second placer Cheruiyot has nothing attached to his iaaf profile besides the national result from just a few days ago. The third placer Mutai is a converted 400m hurdler like Brandon Johnson.

Middle Distance Analyst wrote:

WOW2001 wrote:

Rudisha is gone. Aman is WAY over-raced this year. Amos Is hurt. Souleiman and Solomon will be his biggest competition. I can see Nick and Duane on the medal stand.

If Solomon is on, he'll win it.

Apparently he's on. I've heard he was doing 200 reps in 22 in a recent workout.

I think also Symmonds is very aware that this is a golden opportunity based on his age and prospects in light of the upcomers. Me thinks he will not waste this opportunity.

Yeah this is Symmonds shot at a medal for sure. Like the other poster said, he needs to be top 4 with 200m to go. He might be able to spot Solomon 10m, since I feel like Solomon might die if he takes it out in 49.xx

The race will probably go like this... Solomon takes it out in 49.high or 50-flat. Hits 600m in 1:16-low with Aman surprisingly close. At this point it comes down to:

1. Can Solomon hold on and kick from the front like in USA's?

2. Will the decently fast pace burn out Aman like it did in London? (Rudisha to Kitum before London - "dont try and follow me, stay back and pick off the other guys that do")

3. Will Symmonds place himself in 4th with 200m to go, maximum 10m off the leader? His kick has somehow improved last year and this year. Last 80m in London he was absolutely wrecking it.

My money sadly is on Aman, but my gut is probably on Symmonds.

Aman, Solomon, Symmonds. Solomon takes it through 500-600. Somewhere along the backstretch Aman glides past him and drills away the win with commanding effort. Solomon grinds it out and hangs on for silver while Symmonds swings wide around the pack and takes bronze.

Duane Soloman has to be the heavy favorite American to most likely medal; however, any of our men in the 800m has the potential to medal. If the pace is really fast then I think both Duane and Nick can both medal!

Duane because he will go out and possible get a gap on most of the field and he doesn't die too badly and Nick because he will pick off those who are riggin' up!