In one of the fastest 10K finals in Olympic history, Mo Farah defended his gold medal in 27:05. Farah, Kenenisa Bekele, and Haile Gebrselassie have now won the last six Olympic 10K titles.
Kenyans Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tanui ground out the modest early pace, hitting 5K in 13:53. Tanui put in the first serious injection of pace with 2000 meters to go, throwing down a 63-second lap. Not long after, the Ethiopian duo of Yigrem Demelash and Tamirat Tola took over, leading to a wild and futile last mile where the duo unsuccessfully tried to run away from Farah.
In a carbon copy of so many global championships that we've seen in the last half-decade, though, Farah took the lead with a thousand meters to go, slowed the pace slightly, and utterly controlled the race. With 400 meters to go, the pack was the two Ethiopians, Farah, Tanui, and Farah's sometime training partner Galen Rupp.
Tanui made the first move at the bell, and Rupp was dropped. Farah kept within a meter of Tanui, and powered past him with 120 meters to go. The race for gold was over, and Tanui's run for gold paid off with silver. Tola and Demelash were third and fourth, less than a second behind Tanui and more than two seconds ahead of Rupp.
The 5K splits were a stunning 13:53, 13:12. Only Bekele--in both 2004 and 2008--has run faster in an Olympic final.
For Rupp, though the finish had to be mildly disappointing after silver in London, the result was right in line with what he's done over the last five years--with the caveat that this time, he's been training for the marathon.
Kenyans Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tanui ground out the modest early pace, hitting 5K in 13:53. Tanui put in the first serious injection of pace with 2000 meters to go, throwing down a 63-second lap. Not long after, the Ethiopian duo of Yigrem Demelash and Tamirat Tola took over, leading to a wild and futile last mile where the duo unsuccessfully tried to run away from Farah.
In a carbon copy of so many global championships that we've seen in the last half-decade, though, Farah took the lead with a thousand meters to go, slowed the pace slightly, and utterly controlled the race. With 400 meters to go, the pack was the two Ethiopians, Farah, Tanui, and Farah's sometime training partner Galen Rupp.
Tanui made the first move at the bell, and Rupp was dropped. Farah kept within a meter of Tanui, and powered past him with 120 meters to go. The race for gold was over, and Tanui's run for gold paid off with silver. Tola and Demelash were third and fourth, less than a second behind Tanui and more than two seconds ahead of Rupp.
The 5K splits were a stunning 13:53, 13:12. Only Bekele--in both 2004 and 2008--has run faster in an Olympic final.
For Rupp, though the finish had to be mildly disappointing after silver in London, the result was right in line with what he's done over the last five years--with the caveat that this time, he's been training for the marathon.
Americans Leonard Korir and Shadrack Kipchirir were 14th and 19th; Canadian Mo Ahmed of the Bowerman Track Club was the last finisher in 32nd.
There was drama early in the race, as Farah hit the track after making contact with Rupp. But the Oregon Project duo quickly started looking for each other, Farah flashed a thumbs-up, and everything was fine. In fact, it was more than fine.
There was drama early in the race, as Farah hit the track after making contact with Rupp. But the Oregon Project duo quickly started looking for each other, Farah flashed a thumbs-up, and everything was fine. In fact, it was more than fine.
Farah is now one of just six men with two Olympic gold medals in the 10K.
Results:
1. 27:05.17 Mo Farah (GBR)
2. 27:05.64 Paul Tanui (KEN)
3. 27:06.26 Tamirat Tola (ETH)
4. 27:06.27 Yigrem Demelash (ETH)
5. 27:08.92 Galen Rupp (USA)
14. 27:35.65 Leonard Korir (USA)
19. 27:58.32 Shadrack Kipchirchir (USA)
32. 29:32.84 Mo Ahmed (CAN)
Results:
1. 27:05.17 Mo Farah (GBR)
2. 27:05.64 Paul Tanui (KEN)
3. 27:06.26 Tamirat Tola (ETH)
4. 27:06.27 Yigrem Demelash (ETH)
5. 27:08.92 Galen Rupp (USA)
14. 27:35.65 Leonard Korir (USA)
19. 27:58.32 Shadrack Kipchirchir (USA)
32. 29:32.84 Mo Ahmed (CAN)
Jeff Henderson Wins Long Jump Gold, Belgium's Thiam Upsets in Heptathlon
By Meg Bellino
Team USA's Jeff Henderson took notes from Michelle Carter.
Like Carter, he waited until his sixth and final attempt in his respective event to shoot to the lead and secure an Olympic gold medal. Carter won the women's shot put on day one in dramatic fashion, and tonight Henderson was crowned the gold medalist in the men's long jump with a leap of 8.38m. It is his first ever global medal and Team USA's 999th all-time Summer Olympic gold.
Luvo Manyonga of South Africa set a PB to earn the silver medal in 8.37m and 2012 Olympic Champion Greg Rutherford settled for bronze with a jump of 8.29m.
2016 world leader and former Arkansas graduate Jarrion Lawson led for most of the competition with his 8.25m jump. His sixth jump, right after Henderson's, looked promising, but was only 7.78m. He settled for fourth-place in his first Olympic Games.
Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam won the heptathlon gold medal over reigning Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and Canadian World Indoor Champion Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
It was a close battle until the seventh and final event, the 800m. Ennis-Hill won the final section in 2:09, with Thiam running a PB of 2:16 to lock in gold. The 21-year-old scored a massive personal best 6810 points over Ennis-Hill's 6775 and Theisen-Eaton's 6653.
2016 world leader and former Arkansas graduate Jarrion Lawson led for most of the competition with his 8.25m jump. His sixth jump, right after Henderson's, looked promising, but was only 7.78m. He settled for fourth-place in his first Olympic Games.
Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam won the heptathlon gold medal over reigning Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and Canadian World Indoor Champion Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
It was a close battle until the seventh and final event, the 800m. Ennis-Hill won the final section in 2:09, with Thiam running a PB of 2:16 to lock in gold. The 21-year-old scored a massive personal best 6810 points over Ennis-Hill's 6775 and Theisen-Eaton's 6653.
Boris Berian and Clayton Murphy Advance to 800m Olympic Final
By Meg Bellino
Pierre Ambroise-Bosse and 2012 Olympic 1500m Champion Taoufik Makhloufi set the blazing pace in the men's 800m semifinals by dipping under the 1:44 barrier to qualify for the final.
Team USA's Boris Berian and Clayton Murphy made their first Olympic finasl by finishing second in their respective heats, with Murphy nabbing a new personal best time.
Auto Qualifiers:
1:43.85 Pierre Ambroise-Bosse (FRA)
1:43.85 Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG)
1:44.88 David Rudisha (KEN)
1:44.30 Clayton Murphy (USA)
1:44.38 Alfred Kipketer (KEN)
1:44.56 Boris Berian (USA)
Time Qualifiers:
1:44.56 Marcin Lewandowski (POL)
1:44.65 Ferguson Rotich (KEN)
The men's 800m final will take place on Monday, August 15 at 8:25PM CST.
Auto Qualifiers:
1:43.85 Pierre Ambroise-Bosse (FRA)
1:43.85 Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG)
1:44.88 David Rudisha (KEN)
1:44.30 Clayton Murphy (USA)
1:44.38 Alfred Kipketer (KEN)
1:44.56 Boris Berian (USA)
Time Qualifiers:
1:44.56 Marcin Lewandowski (POL)
1:44.65 Ferguson Rotich (KEN)
The men's 800m final will take place on Monday, August 15 at 8:25PM CST.
Elaine Thompson Wins 100m, Third Consecutive Gold for Jamaica
By Meg Bellino
Elaine Thompson of Jamaica won her first Olympic medal in stunning fashion.
The 24-year-old blasted a 10.71 to beat out American Tori Bowie (10.83) and two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.86). It is the third-straight gold medal for Jamaica in the women's 100m, as well as the second-consecutive silver for the U.S. and the second-straight bronze for Jamaica.
The race will go down as one of the deepest in history, as it is the first time that seven women broke 11-seconds. Thompson made it look easy from the gun and pulled away mid-way through to destroy the field, including Fraser-Pryce and pre-meet favorites Dafne Schippers and English Gardner, who finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
Bowie's silver medal marks her second outdoor global medal after earning bronze in this event at the world championships last summer. After finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she came out as the top American in her first Olympic appearance.
Though Fraser-Pryce uncharacteristically earned bronze, the medal is significant for the veteran. The two-time Olympic champion had only run 10.93 prior to Rio and lowered her season best significantly when it mattered most.
Thompson and Fraser-Pryce will try and take down the U.S. team in the 4x100m relay later this week. Fraser-Pryce was on the 2012 squad that earned silver behind the Americans.
The race will go down as one of the deepest in history, as it is the first time that seven women broke 11-seconds. Thompson made it look easy from the gun and pulled away mid-way through to destroy the field, including Fraser-Pryce and pre-meet favorites Dafne Schippers and English Gardner, who finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
Bowie's silver medal marks her second outdoor global medal after earning bronze in this event at the world championships last summer. After finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she came out as the top American in her first Olympic appearance.
Though Fraser-Pryce uncharacteristically earned bronze, the medal is significant for the veteran. The two-time Olympic champion had only run 10.93 prior to Rio and lowered her season best significantly when it mattered most.
Thompson and Fraser-Pryce will try and take down the U.S. team in the 4x100m relay later this week. Fraser-Pryce was on the 2012 squad that earned silver behind the Americans.
