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Team USA: Day 4 Track Recap

Posted August 18th, 2008 at 2:42 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Team USA earned five medals Monday in Beijing, two of them gold.

BROWN-TRAFTON WINS FIRST GOLD MEDAL FOR U.S.

Stephanie Brown-Trafton surprised many as she became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the discus since 1932. After a rocky first three days, this was the first gold medal for the U.S. at the Beijing Games.

Brown-Trafton’s first throw of 64.74m/212-5 was unmatched by her competitors.

“I told people when you make the final anything can happen. I had a far throw and nobody else stepped up. I won a gold medal!” she said after her victory.

U.S. DOMINATES SWEEPS MEDALS IN 400m HURDLES

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Angelo Taylor won his second Olympic gold medal in 8 years, running a personal-best time of 47.25 seconds.

“It means the world to me (to win another gold medal),” Taylor said. “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

The race was a sweep for the U.S. team. Kerron Clement was 2nd in 47.98 seconds and Bershawn Jackson ran 48.06 for the bronze.

“We are the best three hurdlers in the world. We proved that today,” Clement said.

STUCZYNSKI EARNS SILVER IN WOMEN’S POLE VAULT

American record holder Jennifer Stuczynski took silver in the women’s pole vault with a top height cleared at 4.80m/15-9. Her U.S. teammate, April Steiner-Bennett, cleared 4.55m/14-11 for 8th place.

Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva improved her own world record by 1 cm after she cleared 5.05m/16-6.75 to win gold.

FAM FADES AFTER A BOLD MOVE IN THE 3000m STEEPLECHASE

In his second Olympic appearance, Anthony “Fam” Famiglietti had hoped to medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, but it was not to be as he faded to 13th (8:31.21).

Known for his valiance, Fam took a risk when he sped to the front of the pack with 3.5 laps to go. The other runners quickly reacted and he could not hold the lead.

“My legs didn’t feel well. I had a feeling no one would take the pace. I said, ‘let’s make it anyone’s race.’ I kept wasting so much energy,” he said. “When they made that move, I couldn’t make it. I should have just gone to the front and taken the pace.”

Kenyans Brimin Kipruto (8:10.34) and Richard Mateelong (8:11.01) took the gold and bronze medals, while Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France won silver in 8:10.49.