Symmonds wins 800M heat, advances to semifinals

By KVAL Sports Published: Aug 6, 2012 at 2:24 PM PDT Last Updated: Aug 6, 2012 at 4:47 PM PDT

LONDON - Nick Symmonds won his 800M heat Monday to advance to the semifinals Tuesday.

The finals are Thursday.

Symmonds, who lives in Springfield, won his heat in 1:45.91. Duane Solomon of Los Angeles won his heat in 1:46.05. The third member of Team USA's 800M squad, Khadevis Robinson of Las Vegas, came up short in the prelims.

Symmonds is a graduate of Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho.

He won 7 NCAA Division III titles for Willamette University in Salem, Ore.

As an entrepreneur, Symmonds is working to open Tan Republic salons in Eugene and Springfield.