Do you see a little Steve Prefontaine, the late and legendary distance runner, in Nick Symmonds?

In the meet named after the famed athlete, Symmonds said he drew a little on the Pre spirit, took on some of the world's best 800-meter runners and beat them at the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet on an often overcast and occasionally damp Sunday.

The IAAF Grand Prix event's crowd of 13,244 - the 11th straight sellout at Hayward Field - roared as Symmonds sped to victory with a furious kick in 1 minute and 44.54 seconds, a meet record and the second-fastest time in the world this year.