Oregon Public Broadcasting

The fourth day of the Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene has a primetime lineup, with five event finals.  But as Andrew Theen reports, the marquee event is the men's 800 meter final, where two local favorites hope to lock up trips to Beijing.

The four-time American champion in the 800 meters, Khadevis Robinson, is in the final tonight, along with seven other accomplished runners.

But University of Oregon star Andrew Wheating and Eugene resident Nick Symmonds are the definite crowd favorites.  Only 3 runners earn a trip to Beijing.

Frank Gagliano is Nick Symmonds' coach.  He said there's something special about his guy, and that the Hayward fans know it.

Frank Gagliano: "Well first of all, he's a winner.  He'll go to the wire with anybody.  Second of all, he's smart, he speaks well, he's well-educated.  He embraces the community, the community embraces him."

Symmonds moved to Eugene a couple years ago, and he earned devoted fans when he captured the Pre Classic in  2007. 

Symmonds said he thinks the crowd will back the Duck, Andrew Wheating, but he says the fans "have his back, too."