Yesterday was a big success, but a big let down at the same time. In a disappointing turn of events, the 4x4 prelim didn’t go so well, with the USA team being DQ’d. On the second exchange, as Jeshua was flying by the other two teams near the front, Joey shuffled down to get the baton and was called for not holding position as the runners came down the backstretch. It’s a real shame, there was a serious lack of communication from the officials about the exchange zones and procedures and despite our best efforts to reverse the decision we’re not going to be running in the final. Consequently, not one but two 3:26 squads will be running tonight in our place, bummer.

At any rate, even that can’t take away our excitement of advancing both 800 runners to the final tonight! If we can’t have our 4x4 medals, both of us are sure to be gunning for one tonight. The past two summers I’ve had the honor of being in an international 800 final with a fellow American and hopefully we can both end up on the medal stand again tonight.

Coming into the semi final I was admittedly pretty nervous. The tough semi finals can get to me sometimes and I was in business mode and very serious the whole warmup. I think coach was a bit flustered because it’s really not like me to be so uptight before a race. After walking into the stadium and seeing the first heat on the line, I was able to take a deep breath and clear my head. The whole USA squad was in the stands right there cheering and having their support calmed me down a bit.

The first heat went out at a modest pace and the winners weren’t blazing fast. Also, the Columbian 1:44 guy had just finished 3rd in what seemed to be the potentially slow heat of the night. Qualifying was top two and the next two fastest times.

Feeling good when the gun went off, I followed Fred and rode the inside of lane one through the entire race and held on for second. I got a bit worried in the last 100, the Russian made a good move and I was stuck behind Samoei in lane one with nowhere to go. Thankfully it all worked out, and we had run a good bit faster then the last heat so worse comes to worse I would have had the time qualifier. Definitely have to make a mental note to stay out of trouble tonight though.

I hung around after the race and watched Ryan also get through. He got shuffled out the back and I think a big shove at 200 to go really put some fuel in his fire as he hammered home to also take 2nd in his heat.

Now that the semis are out of the way, it’s time to get out there and put on a show in the final. The hard nerve wracking stuff is all out of the way and we are excited to go out, represent for America, test ourselves and have fun doing it. Making this final is a serious cherry on top for the season, but a medal would be even better.

The final is tonight at 7 PM under the lights, and consists of Ryan and I from the USA, fellow NCAA athlete Fred Samoei of Alabama, Lachlan Renshaw of OTC, a pair of 1:45 guys from Russia and Brazil, the German Heat 1 winner and one runner from China who PR’d in the semi to make the final in my heat. With him in the heat it’s guaranteed to be loud.

We’ve been here for over a week now, it’s weird to think that this is our last night. We all depart really early tomorrow morning and I’ll be back in State College on Monday early evening thanks to the time change. I completely forgot and thought I was getting back Tuesday...which means I won’t miss my first day of Tuesday classes back at Penn State. Oh well, back to the real world I guess, had to happen sometime. Pictures and a final wrap up and to follow once I’m back in the States. I’m excited to be back with all my lions, get the fall started and beat Ryan Fenton and some other 800 studs in fantasy football (even though they drafted while I was asleep in China). Go USA!