FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2008

Eugene, Oregon – By: Mark Rinker – OTCelite.com. OTC Elite had many strong performances over the weekend at the AT&T USA Indoor National Championships in Boston, Massachusetts. Competing for berths on the U.S. World Championship team that will compete at the IAAF World Championships on March 7-9th in Valencia, Spain, OTC Elite was able to qualify two athletes.

Highlighting the individual performances for OTC Elite was Nicole Teter (watch video interview) winning her third USA Indoor 800 meter title, and first since 2003. Teter’s time of 2:02.65 was the fastest time by an American this year, and easily qualified her for the World Championships in two weeks. OTC’s other World Championship qualifier was Nick Symmonds (watch video interview). The defending 800 meter champion highlighted one of the most exciting races of the championships. In a tight race that had to be decided by looking at the finish tape, Symmonds finished second in a time of 1:46.96, losing by a mere .01 to last year's US Outdoor Champion Khadevis Robinson (watch video interview). Symmonds time was an indoor personal best, and makes him the 9th fastest man in the world during the 2008 indoor season.

In the men’s mile Will Leer (watch video interview) survived a near fall to finish in a strong fourth place with a time of 3:41.94, while teammate Sean O’Brien also displayed a strong showing with his seventh place showing in 3:43.52. OTC Elite also got solid performances in the men’s 3,000 meters with Bolota Asmerom finishing fifth in 8:07.16, while John Jefferson finished 15th in 8:21.55.

Other OTC members to compete at the championships included a large showing in the men’s 800 meter prelims including: Christian Smith 7th, Matt Scherer 8th, Kevin Hicks 9th and Adam Steele 12th. OTC also entered a men’s Distance Medley Relay at the Championships. Contested as an exhibition race the DMR relay consisted of Christian Smith, Matt Scherer, Kevin Hicks and Bolota Asmerom. The relay team finished third with a time of 9:39.43.

For complete results from the USA Indoor Championships go to usatf.org. For coverage on the upcoming IAAF World Indoor Championships visit the IAAF website at: www.iaaf.org. OTCelite.com will also have updates on Nick Symmonds and Nicole Teter throughout the Championships.

Contact:
Ross Krempley, OTC Elite Director/Assistant Coach
[email protected]