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Team USA: Day 6 Track Recap

Posted August 20th, 2008 at 3:49 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Team USA increased its medal count to 14 Wednesday, but no one could catch Bolt.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE IN BEIJING

Usain Bolt of Jamaica shattered another world record when he ran the 200m in only 19.30 seconds. The record previously belonged to U.S. sprinter Michael Johnson who ran 19.32 at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Bolt ran a 9.69 100m world record on Saturday.

Well behind Bolt in the men’s 200m was Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles in 19.82, followed by Wallace Spearmon of the U.S. in 19.95. However, both men were disqualified for lane violations.

The silver went to American Shawn Crawford (19.96). Crawford’s U.S. teammate, Walter Dix (19.98), won his second bronze medal of the Beijing Games.

TOSTA EARNS SILVER IN WOMEN’S 400M HURDLES

Team USA’s Sheena Tosta redeemed her Athens 2004 fourth-place finish with a silver medal in the women’s 400m hurdles, which she ran in 53.70 seconds.

Jamaican Melaine Walker won gold and set a new Olympic record in the event with a time of 52.64 seconds. Tasha Danvers of Great Britain was third in 53.84, a new personal best.

Tiffany Ross-Williams of the U.S. finished eighth in the final in 57.55.

SYMMONDS ADVANCES TO MEN’S 800M SEMIFINALS

Nick Symmonds was the only U.S. men’s 800m runner to qualify for the semifinal round to be held Thursday. He placed first in heat 4 with a time of 1:46.01.

Fellow Oregonians Andrew Wheating (1:47.05) and Christian Smith (1:48.20) did not advance.

TEGENKAMP AND LAGAT QUALIFY FOR MEN’S 5000M FINALS

Bernard Lagat missed out on the 1500m, but could make up for it in the men’s 5000m. The 2007 world champion won heat 3 of the semifinals in 13:39.70, ahead of 10000m gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia who was third (13:40.13).

Matt Tegenkamp won heat 1 in 13:37.36 to join Lagat in the finals. Ian Dobson (14:05.47) failed to qualify after he finished 9th in heat 2.

U.S. 200M WOMEN AND 110M HURDLES MEN MAKE FINALS

All three U.S. team members made the final of the women’s 200m to be held Thursday. Allyson Felix (22.33) was first in heat 2, followed by Marshavet Hooker in 22.50. Muna Lee was third in heat 1 with a personal best time of 22.29 seconds.

Team USA’s David Oliver and David Payne qualified for the men’s 110m hurdles final. World record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba won heat 1 in 13.12, followed by Payne in 13.21. Oliver led heat 2 in 13.31.