Willamette University Grad Nick Symmonds. Photo: Willamette University The Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games kick off in London this week, and our eyes will be on Willamette University chemistry graduate Nick Symmonds '06 as he competes for the Gold in Track & Field! This is the second Olympics for Symmonds who earned a spot on the U.S. team after winning the 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 1:43.92 Symmonds' winning time at the 2012 trials was the fastest time by an American at Hayward and was just 0.16 away from his personal best of 1:43.76, set in Italy in 2010. As a runner at Willamette, Symmonds achieved seven NCAA Division III national titles: four in the 800-meter run and three in the 1,500-meter run. The London Olympics will mark his fifth international championship event. Image & Story Credit: Willamette University