Yuriy Borzakovskiy News

This is the way to end a season. Gary Reed of Victoria overcame the bitter disappointment of failing to make the final of the 2009 world track and field championships last month in Berlin by taking the silver medal in the 800 metres yesterday at the World Athletics Final Meet in Thessaloniki, Greece.

It is just as well that Christian Malcolm was blessed with a blistering turn of speed as a 16-year-old. Otherwise, he might have been on a wing-and- a-prayer mission at Molineux yesterday instead of striking gold for Britain at the European indoor championships.

Kenenisa Bekele needed one of the biggest finishing kicks of his career to hold off defending champion Bernard Lagat and win the 5,000 meters at the world championships, giving him a second long-distance double in as many years.

Nick Symmonds was in perfect position with 100 meters to go in Sunday's 800 final at the world championships.

Idaho native and Willamette University graduate Nick Symmonds finished 6th in the men's 800 meter final at the IAAF World Championships.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt and mascot Berlino celebrate after Bolt set a world record in the 200-meter men's final Thursday at the world championships in Berlin.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds took first place in his semifinal heat in the 800 Friday at the IAAF World Championships.

Usain Bolt startled the world again. The Jamaican sprinting great captured the 200-meter gold medal in 19.19 seconds Thursday, yet another world record.

Canada's Gary Reed races to victory in his first-round 800-metres race at the world track and field championships Thursday in Berlin.

Usain Bolt seems to have a lock on his second sprint title at the world championships even before running Thursday's 200-meter final.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds has established himself as the top 800-meter runner in the United States.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds ran a personal best in the 800 meters Tuesday at the Herculis international track and field meet.

In a stunning 800m victory at the Herculis meeting in Monaco today, American Maggie Vessey ran close to a world leading time and all but clinched a spot on her national team for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics next month in Berlin.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds ran a personal best in the 800 meters Tuesday at the Herculis international track and field meet.

Athletics:David GillickA s preparations for next monthA s World Championships in Berlin are right on track after the Irish runner finished fifth in a world class menA s 400 metres line-up at tonightA s IAAF Herculis meeting in Monaco.

Irish 800 metres runners Thomas Chamney and Dave Campbell both went under 1 minute and 46 seconds for the first time at Friday's Bislett Games in Oslo.

Both were on the slate in the event on Friday, but when Dibaba announced yesterday that she was pulling out of Friday night's race due to injury, the meet was robbed of one of the most eagerly anticipated face-offs of the year.

It seems fair to say that, one way or another, we will be hearing quite a lot more of Jimmy Watkins.

A magical venue brings out magical performances from Nick Symmonds. Two years ago, Symmonds made his mark on the international scene at the Prefontaine Classic by running down 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy at the finish line of the 800 meters.

Shalane Flanagan, who resides in Portland, will run against a world-class 1,500-meter field Sunday in the Prefontaine Classic.