EUGENE -- It was something that had never been done before.
Now, Boise-native and Bishop Kelly graduate Nick Symmonds stands alone in USA Track and Field history.
"I know something special is in my legs," Symmonds recalled thinking prior to Monday.
Looking to become the first athlete to ever win five straight USA National Titles in the men's 800m, Symmonds blew away his competition with a time of 1:43.92, clocking the fastest finish ever by an American runner at Hayward Field.
"I've ran some really fast races here on Hayward Field against some really incredible fields," Symmonds told KTVB after the race. "But to do a 1:43.92 when it really counts in the Olympic Trials, that's very special."
Like he always does, Symmonds put the 21,626 fans in attendance on the edge of their seats with his patient runner style.
After the first lap, he sat comfortably in fifth place, waiting to make his move. On the backstretch of the final lap, Symmonds started to pick runners off, and by the time he hit the final turn, only Duane Soloman was in front of him.
That's when Symmonds - who now lives and trains in Eugene - heard a roar from the stands.
"I know when I take the lead they're going to stand on their feet and bring me home."
With approximately 40-meters left, Symmonds surged passed Solomon and into first place. Pulling away from the rest of the field, Symmonds crossed the finish line in full celebration mode with his tongue waging.
"Tonight wasn't about just making the top 3 (to qualify), it was about winning and winning fast."
Now it's on to the London Olympics.
After getting eliminated prior to the finals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, Symmonds says he feels like he could be in line to do something special this summer.
"Coach definitely wasn't peaking us for this (race). He said 'I want to get you on the team, but we're trying to win a medal this year.'"
"I still feeling like their is a lot of sharpening to do. A lot of speed work left and I've got five weeks to put it in," Symmonds added. "But if I can run a performance like I did tonight or even a touch fast, I think it will be good for a medal."
