Posted: Aug 7, 2012 1:08 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Aug 7, 2012 1:35 PM
Lompoc native Duane Solomon, Jr. earned a spot in the men's 800 meter final on Tuesday. The 27 year old surged to the lead in the third and final semifinal heat and held on for a third place finish with a time of 1:44.93.
The top two finishers in each of the three heats, as well as the next two fastest overall times qualified for Thursday's final.
Solomon earned the eighth and final spot in the final. Fellow American Nick Symmonds, who also finished third in his semifinal heat, claimed the seventh spot with his time of 1:44.87.
World record holder David Rudisha of Kenya won his heat to advance to the final. Mohammed Eman of Ethiopia edged Solomon and Kenya's Timothy Kitum to take the third heat in 1:44.34.
Solomon, a Cabrillo High graduate and first-time Olympian, edged Marcin Lewandwoski of Poland for the final spot in the final by .15 of a second.
Solomon entered the London Olympics on a high note. He ran the 800 in 1:43.44, the fifth fastest time ever by an American male, a few weeks ago at a meet in Monaco.
The 800 meter final is Thursday at 12pm California time.
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