Men's 800 press conference

Wheating had a phenomenal 2008 outdoor season which saw him win 11 straight races before finishing second by .01 in the finals of the 800 meters at the NCAA Championships (1:45.32). That only served as…
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Wheating had a phenomenal 2008 outdoor season which saw him win 11 straight races before finishing second by .01 in the finals of the 800 meters at the NCAA Championships (1:45.32). That only served as…
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Wheating had a phenomenal 2008 outdoor season which saw him win 11 straight races before finishing second by .01 in the finals of the 800 meters at the NCAA Championships (1:45.32). That only served as a prelude to his silver medal run in the final of the 800 meters at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, clocking a PR 1:45.03 to become the first Oregon undergraduate to compete in the Olympic Games since Matt Centrowitz in 1976. That time ranks second on the school’s all-time 800 list. All-American was the Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional champion in the 800. Became the first native of Vermont to run the mile in under 4:00 when he clocked a 3:58.16 at the Oregon Relays. Also ranks sixth in the 1,500 meters (3:38.60). Truly impressive run of victories in the 800 (nine straight) actually began in the indoor season with a win at the MPSF Championships (1:48.82). Nearly matched that time in his outdoor 800 debut in helping Oregon win the UCLA dual meet by taking the event in 1:48.83. Improved his best time to 1:47.82 in winning the Cardinal Invitational. After winning his preliminary 800 heat at the Pac-10 championships, set yet another personal best in winning the final in 1:46.83. Became Oregon’s first Pac-10 800 meter champion since Simon Kimata in 2002. Scored another pair of firsts in breezing though the preliminaries and finals (1:47.93) at the NCAA West Regional. Was equally as impressive at the NCAA Championships, winning his two preliminary rounds in 1:48.88 and 1:47.15 to set up the most exciting race of the national meet. Just missed an NCAA Championship when he finished second to Texas’ Jacob Hernandez by one hundredth of a second in the finals. Set yet another personal best in that race, 1:45.32. In the U.S. Olympic Trials, thrilled the Hayward Field crowd by advancing through the two preliminary heats in 1:47.85 (first) and 1:46.23 (second), respectively, before taking part in the signature moment of the 2008 Trials, the final of the men’s 800. Hanging near the back of the pack with eventual champ Nick Symmonds for most of the race, Wheating used his trademark kick on the final curve to surge around the pack and finish second to Symmonds in a personal record 1:45.03 that ranks second all-time on the Oregon top 10. That finish earned him his first trip to the Olympic Games, where he took fourth in his preliminary round (1:47.05). Opened outdoor season with a 3:47.11 in the 1,500 meters to win the Pepsi Team Invite. Only other 1,500-meter race of the season was a win at the Oregon Twilight, where he ran a personal-best 3:38.60. Saw action indoors on the distance medley relay team, where he helped Oregon set the school record at the USATF Indoor Championships (9:34.06) and then finish ninth at the NCAA Indoor Championships (9:36.80). In cross country, was one of six All-Pac-10 honorees for UO by finishing 14th in only his second collegiate race, and helped Ducks to repeat as team champions. Season Bests: Outdoors - 800 Meters - 1:45.03 (PR), U.S. Olympic Trials, Eugene, Ore. (6/30/08). 1,500 Meters - 3:38.60 (PR), Oregon Twilight, Eugene, Ore. (5/9/08). Mile - 3:58.16 (PR), Oregon Relays, Eugene, Ore. (4/25/08). Indoors - 800 Meters - 1:48.82 (PR), MPSF Championships, Seattle, Wash. (3/1/08).