American Record: Johnny Gray, 1:42.60
2007 U.S. Champion: Khadevis Robinson, 1:44.37
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Jonathan Johnson, 1:44.77
Top 5 Seed Times
1.) Khadevis Robinson, 1:44.27
2.) Nick Symmonds, 1:44.54
3.) Jonathan Johnson, 1:44.69
4.) Jacob Hernandez, 1:45.31
5.) Andrew Wheating, 1:45.32
There will be plenty of hometown favorites for the Hayward Field faithful to cheer on in the men’s 800m, but the favorite in the event is Californian Khadevis Robinson.
A four-time U.S. outdoor champion, including the past three, Robinson also has the fastest time by an American this year.
He will have his hands full, however, with a plethora of Oregon Track Club Elite runners, especially Nick Symmonds.
Symmonds won the 2007 U.S. indoor championship and Prefontaine Classic – both over Robinson.
Robinson and Symmonds are the prohibitive favorites, but a trio of collegians could challenge for the third spot on the Olympic team, along with 2004 Olympic Trials champion Jonathan Johnson.
Texas’ Jacob Hernandez has the fastest time of the collegians, Oregon’s Andrew Wheating has only lost once this year (to Hernandez by .01 at the NCAA Championships) and will have the home fans squarely behind him, and USC’s Duane Solomon made the World Championships team last year.
Former Oregon star Matt Scherer has made big strides in the 800m this year and is also a potential threat.