Nude Nick to Race in Hobart
08 Feb 2011
Nude Nick to Race in Hobart
American World Championship 800m finalist Nick Symmonds is the latest international star to join the line-up at this year’s Briggs Athletics Classic.
Symmonds has won the past three USA national titles over 800m and has spent time in Australia recently, training during our summer.
Carrying a personal best over 800m of 1:43.83 and of 3:56.72 at the mile, Symmonds is a world class performer, at more ways than one. He also starred in a Nike commercial, which became a worldwide hit, with him known as the Nike Nude Runner. Fast forward to 1minute 25seconds into the clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0djFNY9pNeY to see the man who will be taking on our best at the Briggs Athletics Classic.
On February 20, Symmonds will line up against one of Australia’s best middle distance runners of all time, in Jeff Riseley.
At just 24 years of age, Riseley sits at number 3 on the Australian All Time list for 1500m, the event in which he and Symmonds will go head to head in.
The men’s 1500m at the Briggs Athletics Classic has built a strong recent history, with new Tasmanian Allcomers records being set three out of the past four years. Most recently, Ryan Gregson ran 3:37.35 at last 2010 edition, before he went on to famously break the Australian record in Monaco last year.
This year’s race attracted hot interest from around the country, with the field also set to include dual national champion Lachlan Chisholm, 2010 Zatopek race winner Nick Toohey, local star Grant Page and many of the nation’s top junior prospects.
The announcement of Nick Symmonds to the meet, follows last month’s announcement of 2007 World Champion Reese Hoffa from the USA.