BEIJING - Jamaican phenom Usain Bolt stole the show once again, and Team USA brought its medal tally to 14 thanks to the men's 200m and women's 400 hurdles, Wednesday night at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.
Bolt continues to amaze; medal confusion
In the men's 200m there had been much buzz about whether Bolt could break the unbreakable record - Michael Johnson's 19.32 world mark set at the 1996 Athens Olympics. Given that he had crushed his own 100m world record on Saturday with a time of 9.69 seconds while celebrating for the last 20-30 meters, all eyes were on him. On Wednesday, Bolt left no doubt. Running all-out the entire race, Bolt pushed through, leaning at the finish and stopping the clock at 19.30. He shaved .02 off of Johnson's mark.
More than a half-second behind him was a race for the rest of the medals. Defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles) had gone out hard and came into the final stretch poised for silver or bronze in lane 3, with Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) also running well in lane 8. The slow-starting Wallace Spearmon (Fayetteville, Ark.) came off the curve slowly in lane 9. In the straight, Spearmon turned it on, coming up to nip his two teammates for third in 19.95, behind Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles, who was second in 19.82. Crawford crossed the line fourth in 19.96, and Dix fifth in 19.98.
Confusion then ensued. After celebrating his bronze, Spearmon was informed that he had been disqualified for a lane violation, running on the inside line. After filing a protest, Team USA officials viewed film of the race and accepted the disqualification when they realized Spearmon had indeed committed a violation. That moved Crawford up for bronze, and Dix to fourth. Team officials also believed that the film showed second-place Martina committing a similar violation, and they protested Martina's finish on those grounds.
After again reviewing the tape, meet officials disqualified Martina as well. That left a final finishing order of Bolt (19.30), Crawford (19.96) and Dix (19.98). It was Dix's second bronze of the meet, adding to his 100m bronze.
Tosta takes silver
After winning the 2004 Olympic Trials in a meet-record time, Sheena Johnson Tosta (Chula Vista, Calif.) finished a disappointing fourth at the Athens Olympic Games in the 400m hurdles. The 2008 Games had an inausipicious beginning, with Tosta running a poor first round and barely qualifying for the semifinals. All that history didn't matter Wednesday night. After leading the race early, she came off the turn just a whisker behind Melaine Walker of Jamaica. Walker powered ahead to win in an Olympic record time of 52.64, the #4 time in history, with Tosta second in 53.70 to win the first U.S. medal in the hurdles since 1996. Natasha Danvers of Great Britain was third in 53.84. Struggling with her steps and form, Olympic Trials champion Tiffany Ross-Williams was eighth in 57.55.
With three full days of women's competition remaining, the Team USA women already have surpassed their medal total from Athens, with seven medals compared to six total in 2004. U.S. women won seven medals at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, making 2008 potentially the most successful Olympics for the women's team since 1992 (10 medals) or 1984 (16 medals). All seven medals won thus far by American women in individual events have come from first-time medalists on the Olympic and/or World Outdoor stage.
Making their finals
Three Americans will line up for the final of the women's 200 on Thursday after strong semifinal runs. Two-time world champion Allyson Felix (Los Angeles) won heat 2 in 22.33, with Marshevet Hooker (Pfugerville, Texas) second in 22.50. Muna Lee (College Station, Texas) was third in heat 1 in 22.29 to join her teammates.
The two Davids - Oliver (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Payne (Hampton, Va.) - both had an easy time in the semifinals of the men's 110m hurdles. In the first heat, World Outdoor bronze medalist Payne was second behind world record holder Dayron Robles in 13.21. Oliver won heat 2 in 13.31.
Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.) and Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.) each won their heats in the semifinals of the men's 5,000m. The fourth-place finisher at the 2007 World Championships, Tegenkamp won heat 1 in 13:37.36. The defending world champion, Lagat won the third heat in 13:39.70, and Ian Dobson (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) was ninth in the second heat in 14:05.47 and didn't qualify.
Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.) will compete in the semifinals of the men's 800 on Thursday. Uncharacteristically running near the front throughout his race, Symmonds won the fourth heat in Wednesday's first round in 1:46.01. Christian Smith (Eugene, Ore.) was fourth in heat 5 in 1:48.20, and Andrew Wheating (Eugene, Ore.) was fourth in heat 6 in 1:47.05; neither advanced.
For more information on Team USA at the Olympic Games, including athlete quotes, event schedule, TV schedule and complete results, visit www.usatf.org
Team USA medal table, 2008 Olympic Games
Gold (3)
Stephanie Brown Trafton (Galt, Calif.), women's discus, 64.74m/212-5
Angelo Taylor (Decatur, Ga.), men's 400m hurdles, 47.25
Dawn Harper (Los Angeles), women's 100m hurdles, 12.54
Silver (5)
Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), men's shot put, 21.09m/69-2.5
Jenn Stuczynski (Churchville, N.Y.), women's pole vault, 4.80m/15-9
Kerron Clement (Los Angeles), men's 400m hurdles, 47.98
Sheena Johnson Tosta (Chula Vista, Calif.), women's 400m hurdles 53.70.
Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles), men's 200m, 19.96
Bronze (6)
Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.), women's 10,000m, 30:22.22AR
Hyleas Fountain (Kettering, Ohio), women's heptathlon, 6619 points
Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), men's 100m, 9.91
Bershawn Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.), men's 400m hurdles, 48.06
Sanya Richards (Austin, Texas), women's 400m, 49.93
Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), men's 200m, 19.98
Day 6 Team USA quotes - Evening Session
Men's 200m final
Shawn Crawford (Los Angeles): "The race was fast. We wanted to come here and sweep it. (Spearmon's disqualification) That's not the way I wanted to attain a medal. I know he's heartbroken right now. He crossed the line in the podium position. Then to find out you're disqualified for stepping on the line, I'm disappointed for him. That's heartbreaking.
"I can't complain about my race. Everything I had in me, I left it on the track. You might find some of my skin cells out there."
On Bolt: "Usain Bolt is the fastest man I've ever seen in my life. The 19.30 to me wasn't strange. I've watched Usain perform all year. He's been putting up phenomenal times. I watched him do the rounds of the 100m. He set a record in that at 9.69. I figured he had a chance to break the record here. I just didn't know if he would have it in his legs still after eight rounds. That was expected. I knew it was going to be a fast race. Usain is a phenomenal athlete."
"He's made history. He's broken a 12-year-old record held by Michael Johnson and the same time he crushed the 100-meter record. He put on a show tonight. To me, it's just like Michael Phelps in swimming. He raised the bar for us."
Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.): "God blessed me well. Wallace got me at the end, so did Shawn. It was a big PR. I ran a 19.9. I'm pretty satisfied with that. The best man won today. It wasn't me."
After learning he had the bronze medal: "It's a bittersweet moment. In the end hard work always pays off."
Women's 400m hurdles final
Sheena Johnson Tosta (Chula Vista, Calif.): "I think the first round has always been hard for me. After getting through the first round, I just knew I had a medal in me. I just had to go out and put my race together today. I tried to go for the win and came out with a second, but I am very happy about that."
"I know that I have a very strong finish, and if I come out ahead at the turn, they're not going to catch me. I just tried to catch Melaine (Walker) but she had a very strong finish."
Tiffany Ross-Williams (Kissimmee, Fla.): "This was the worst race of my life. I'm just very disappointed. I don't know what happened the whole race. The first 200m, I felt like I was in the race. I usually switch at six and my switch came on five and I jumped the hurdle with the wrong leg five times. It was just a very bad race. I don't know what happened."
Men's 110m hurdles semifinals
David Payne (Hampton, Va.): "It wasn't one of my great races. I feel like in the middle of my race I kind of got out of control, but I was able to pick it up on the last few hurdles with the exception of the last hurdle. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to get that back together."
On the medal contenders: "I'm not going to say it's pretty clear. People have their favorites, but I just hope one of them is me."
On Dayron Robles (CUB): "I think he made a pretty big statement, but that was tonight and tomorrow's a different story."
David Oliver (Kissimmee, Fla.): "It didn't go as well as I wanted it to. But, I won the race, had no problems and get ready for tomorrow.
On what he was laughing about after the race: "The race was just so bad - to still be able to run a bad race like that and still win your heat. We'll see what happens tomorrow."
"I was just happy to look up and see I had a "Q" next to my name. That's all that matters, surviving and advancing."
Women's 200m semifinals
Ally
on Felix (Los Angeles): "Gotta save something for tomorrow. It was comfortable. Bobby wanted me to run a strong 120m and evaluate where I was and control from there."
On being worried about Veronica Campbell-Brown's (JAM) time: "No. I wanted to run as slow as possible to try to make it through. I'm saving it all for tomorrow. I'm just going to go out there and do my best."
Muna Lee (College Station, Texas): "I felt pretty good. My coach wanted me to get out harder again. It felt really easy. I didn't break my form."
"Every time I find something new. I didn't break my form. It's going to be a really good final."
"I wanted to place higher, but I made the final. I'm not complaining."
Marshevet Hooker (Pfugerville, Texas): "I felt great. I was way out in nine, and I didn't see anyone."
"When I saw Allyson, I stayed with her and she pulled me to a great race."
"This is what we train for. We just leave it on the track."
Men's 800m first round
Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.): "It was exactly what I wanted in the first round. I haven't raced in seven weeks, so there is always a little bit of a question of am I going to get out and feel good or am I going to feel flat. I tell you what, I felt real good. That first 200 was just what I wanted. Instead of getting caught in the back, I let myself get up in the hunt a little bit more so I wouldn't have to waste so much energy."
"The thing that surprised me was when I got the lead and shut it off like we like to do and Reina and Yego were right there pushing it. I had to re-accelerate, which is always hard to do in the last 100m, but I'm kind of glad that I had to do it because it shows that I have that kick that I'm known for. It was good competitiveness that you want to see in the preliminary, people hunting down those two spots."
Christian Smith (Eugene, Ore.): "The stadium was awesome. It was so full. Just the way it feels, I can't even compare it to any football games I've been to. It was an awesome stage. I wanted so badly to make it to the next round. The race was slow. I felt alright, but I just couldn't close with those guys."
Andrew Wheating (Eugene, Ore.): "I should have been able to react a little better. The first quarter is usually pretty slow, and I wasn't ready for it. They went out slow and then they dropped the pace from a 53 to like a 49 pace. It was a bit of a shock and was hard to stay with. They moved forward and I had to try to catch them. Rookie mistake. Hopefully I've learned my lesson."
"I just think I got lazy in that third 200. I was prepared for them to take it up, but they took it up a little quicker than I expected. The minute we crossed that first quarter, they started running faster. Usually it's about 300 left to go when they start to move, and I wasn't ready for it. They got away from me. I just couldn't react."
Men's 5,000m first round
Matt Tegenkamp (Madison, Wis.): "It was a little tense in there. I definitely didn't feel comfortable until we started running over the last 800 meters. There was just so much pushing and shoving, so much tripping that you were never able to get into a rhythm. When I saw the times, I couldn't believe we ran it that slow. It just felt like it was a lot harder effort. But, when we started running, I felt great. The last 800 was awesome. I definitely had gears down the final stretch. I'm very confident going into the finals."
On his kick: "We've been working on it for the last couple of years. I think Osaka was when it finally dawned on me that I had that ability. Ever since then, I've had confidence in it. I don't want to put too much stock into this race. Everybody was just trying to make it to the final and use as little energy as possible. I think I accomplished that, and I'm just looking forward to the final."
Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.): "It went alright. Today was slow, and I knew that at some point if I don't get to top four, I might was well go away again like in the 1500m. I didn't want it to happen like the 1500m. I wanted to run aggressively even though it was slow and I did. I am happy I won. It wasn't a very good win. It felt really good."
"I've had a few problems with my left Achilles after the trials, and that is why I lost a few weeks of training. That resulted in not making the finals in the 1500m. But now, I am good. We have a really good medical staff with Team USA over here, and they have been taking good care of me. I'm feeling strong right now."
Ian Dobson (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.): "It's embarrassing to go out there like that. I qualified for worlds in 2005, ran better than that and still didn't qualify. I told myself I really didn't want to come back to a championship like this and not be ready to go. I did it again, and it's just a bad feeling to finish up like that. I think I let the whole thing get in my head a little bit. I tried to go out there and soak it up a little bit, look around. It made me a little more nervous. I think of all of the things I did right at the Trials - run like I've got nothing to lose. I just didn't do that today. I didn't give a good effort and it's my fault. I had a couple of bad races in Europe that I let get in my head I think. Physically, I am ready to go, but mentally it just wasn't there and I'm really sorry."
Men's pole vault qualifying
Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.): "It was a long competition. I think one pit had it worse than the other. On our pit, everything was okay. I struggled a little bit out there at first. I'm feeling good. Today was a good learning lesson. I was coming around there at the end.
The stadium is pretty impressive. It's exciting. It feeds the overall energy which is great for the pole vault.
Quote from Team USA Head Coach Bubba Thornton
Head Coach Bubba Thornton: "As we were studying the video for Wallace, it was brought to our attention that there may have been a violation in lane 6. We saw the violation and appealed that result. We then went through the rules process. We wanted to make sure that the resutls of the race were fair."
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