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Team USA: Day 7 Track Recap

Posted August 21st, 2008 at 1:40 PM by Cheryl Lowe

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Day 7 of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing proves that Team USA is just going to keep getting better and better in track and field events.

TEAM USA COMPLETELY DOMINATES MEN’S 400M FINAL

Team USA’s LaShawn Merritt ran a personal best and won the gold medal in 43.75 seconds in the men’s 400m final. Behind Merritt, Jeremy Wariner finished in 2nd place in 44.74 seconds. David Neville earned the bronze medal and crossed the finish line in 44.80 seconds. Team USA proved in this race that they do have what it takes to succeed in the track and field events in Beijing.

Wariner was disappointed with his performance but gave it his best. “I got out front in the first 200. I felt good coming out of the turn, but when I tried to go, I didn’t have anything left,” said Wariner. “I ran the best I could. I didn’t have anything left. But I didn’t give up.”

PAYNE, OLIVER MEDAL IN THE MEN’S 110M FINAL

Even though Dayron Robles (CUB) won the gold medal (1st place, 12.93 seconds) in the men’s 110m final, Team USA still took home the silver and the bronze. Team USA’s David Payne and David Oliver finished in 2nd and 3rd, crossing the line in 13.17 seconds and 13.18 seconds respectively.

David Oliver was a bit concerned about bumping into another hurdler during the race, but he did not lose focus on the goal. “I got a little bit scared. I just tried to stay on it and got a medal out of it,” said Oliver.

ALLYSON FELIX TAKES HOME SILVER IN THE WOMEN’S 200M FINAL

Team USA’s Allyson Felix finished in 2nd place in the women’s 200m final. “I’m grateful to say that I am disappointed with this medal when so many people don’t get the opportunity to say that,” said Felix. “I’m grateful. I’m happy and I’m going to hold my head up and be proud about it.”

Felix crossed the line in 21.93 seconds, right behind Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM). Campbell-Brown won the race in a personal-best time of 21.74 seconds. Team USA’s Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker finished in 4th and 5th place, but failed to medal. Lee finished in 22.01 seconds, followed by Hooker in 22.34 seconds.

TEAM USA DOES NOT ADVANCE TO FINALS in 400-M RELAY, BATONS DROPPED

Unfortunately in the men’s and women’s 4×100m semifinal races Team USA did not advance to the finals. In the men’s race, the baton was dropped during the handover between Tyson Gay and Darvis Patton.

Gay thinks that he was the one at fault. “It was probably my fault. Some people say that when it hits the hand, you should have it,” said Gay. “I’m a veteran. I’ve ran the relays, I’ve never dropped a baton in my life.”

In the women’s semifinal race, the baton was also dropped in the exchange between Team USA’s Lauryn Williams and Torri Edwards. Williams did not receive the baton from Edwards as it fell to the wet ground.

“I’m not exactly sure what happened,” said Williams. “We came out here to compete. We came out here to run our hearts out and to get some revenge on Jamaica. You have to do the first round before you do the second round. No excuses. We had great chemistry. Things just didn’t go as planned.”