High Schoolers, Did You Know?
-If you take the American women's gold medal-winning time of 41.01 and compare it to the top HS boys 4x100 of the 2016 season the women's team ranks 24th in the country.
-Silver Medalist Sandi Morris was jumping 13-3 in high school. Tonight she jumped 4.85 meters which is about 15' 9". That ranks 65th in the country if you compare her to the top HS boys Pole Vault marks of 2016.
-Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya broke the Olympic Record as she won the gold medal in the 5K. If you take her 14:26.17 and compare it to the top HS boys 5K XC times of the 2015 season she ranks second to...Guess who? (Click the link to find out)
Jamaica Wins 4x1, Usain Bolt Collects 9th Gold, U.S. Disqualified (Again)
In what is believed to be Usain Bolt's final Olympic appearance, Jamaica ran 37.27 to win their third-straight 4x100m relay Olympic gold medal.
The team of Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade got the baton around the track efficiently enough to put Usain Bolt in perfect position to collect his ninth Olympic gold medal.
In the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Bolt won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
Japan earned silver in 37.60 and Canada took home bronze in 37.64. The United States team of Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell were disqualified after initially finishing third.
Reportedly, the first exchange between Rodgers and Gatlin was outside the exchange zone. The U.S. men had already taken their victory lap before finding out they were disqualified. Amazingly, almost the same exact thing happened last year at the world championships.
Bromell was taken away from the track in a wheelchair. After finishing eighth in the Olympic 100m final, Bromell tweeted he was ready for "one more race" before undergoing surgery on his injured achilles tendon.
It makes you wonder why Team USA even ran Bromell in the first place, but no matter. Take a look at the history of the U.S. men's 4x100m relay since 2008. Pretty bleak, eh?
Photo Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
The team of Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade got the baton around the track efficiently enough to put Usain Bolt in perfect position to collect his ninth Olympic gold medal.
In the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Bolt won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
Japan earned silver in 37.60 and Canada took home bronze in 37.64. The United States team of Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Bromell were disqualified after initially finishing third.
Reportedly, the first exchange between Rodgers and Gatlin was outside the exchange zone. The U.S. men had already taken their victory lap before finding out they were disqualified. Amazingly, almost the same exact thing happened last year at the world championships.
Bromell was taken away from the track in a wheelchair. After finishing eighth in the Olympic 100m final, Bromell tweeted he was ready for "one more race" before undergoing surgery on his injured achilles tendon.
It makes you wonder why Team USA even ran Bromell in the first place, but no matter. Take a look at the history of the U.S. men's 4x100m relay since 2008. Pretty bleak, eh?
| Year | Meet | Team USA's Exchanges |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympics (Rio) | FAIL (Rodgers -> Gatlin) |
| 2015 | World Championships (Beijing) | FAIL (Gay -> Rodgers) |
| 2015 | World Relays (Bahamas) | GOOD |
| 2014 | World Relays (Bahamas) | FAIL (Kimmons -> Salaam) |
| 2013 | World Championships (Moscow) | FAIL (Salaam -> Gatlin) |
| 2012 | Olympics (London) | FAIL (Doping) |
| 2011 | World Championships (Daegu) | FAIL (Patton -> Dix) |
| 2009 | World Championships (Berlin) | FAIL (Crawford -> Patton) |
| 2008 | Olympics (Beijing) | FAIL (Patton -> Gay) |
Photo Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
U.S. Women Win Second-Straight 4x100m Relay Gold
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The squad of Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie ran 41.01 to take down Jamaica (41.36) and Great Britain (41.77).
The victory comes after a controversial re-run in the prelims. The exchange between Felix and Gardner was impeded by the Brazil team, and the U.S. dropped the baton. They were granted another shot at qualifying for the final after a protest and easily advanced in a solo re-run race with Bartoletta, Felix, Gardner and Morolake Akinosun recording 41.77. The U.S. replaced Akinosun with 100m Olympic silver medalist Bowie and they dominated the field.
The medal marks Felix's eighth Olympic career medal, the most by any American in track and field. In total, she has five golds.
The gold medal is Bartoletta's second of the Games after winning the long jump. Tori Bowie will bring home a gold, silver (100m) and bronze (200m) in her first Olympic appearance.
Vivian Cheruiyot Wins First Olympic 5K Gold For Kenya in Olympic Record
Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Cheruiyot beat Ayana with a fatal surge in the toughest portion of the race, with two laps remaining. As a result of her brave move, she made history for her country.
Ayana attempted to break the field by asserting herself in the lead at the 2K mark. After splitting 6:00 for 2K, Ayana continued to push the pace. She commanded a 30-meter lead on the chase pack, which included Cheruiyot, Obiri, Mercy Cherono, and Yasemin Can.
The Olympic and world champion blazed through 3K in 8:47 with no competition in sight. It seemed as if Ayana would run away with another Olympic gold medal.
Meanwhile, Cheruiyot plotted her move, and inched closer to overtake Ayana. With two laps remaining, Cheruiyot threw down a surge and passed the Ethiopian.
Cheruiyot continued to build her lead and eventually run her way to Olympic gold. The performance marks the five-time world champion's first Olympic gold after earning silver in the 5K in 2012 and silver in the 10K in Rio.
Ayana maintained podium position by closing for third in 14:33. She closed even faster in the second half of her 10K world record just a few days ago.
The lone American in the race, Shelby Houlihan was able to finish 11th overall in 15:08, just a few seconds shy of her personal best in the event. The performance marks Houlihan's first Olympic final of her career.
Sandi Morris Earns Olympic Silver Medal in Pole Vault
Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Morris, 24, and Stefanidi battled through three attempts at 4.90m. Neither athlete managed a clearance, but Stefanidi had one less miss than Morris. Morris' final attempt appeared clear until her elbow hit the bar, causing it to fall and solidifying Stefanidi's victory.
19-year-old Eliza McCartney of New Zealand earned bronze.
Reigning Olympic Champion Jenn Suhr failed to clear 4.70m and finished tied for seventh. Suhr had been battling illness all week in Rio, as reported by her husband Rick Suhr.
Morris earned the world indoor silver medal after finishing second to Suhr in Portland last March. Prior to Rio, Morris broke the outdoor American record with a clearance of 4.93m at the American Track League meeting in Houston.
Stefanidi, a Stanford grad, claimed the world indoor bronze medal and posted personal bests of 4.86m outdoors and 4.90m indoors this year. Her performance in Rio marks her first Olympic final and first Olympic medal of her career.
U.S. Women Set to Defend Sixth-Straight 4x400 Gold
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The U.S. squad of Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Kyle Clemons and David Verburg ran 2:58.38, .09 behind Jamaica. Olympic bronze medalist LaShawn Merritt did not compete in the prelim but may compete in the final.
Women
Auto Qualifiers Heat 1:3:21.42 United States
3:24.54 Ukraine
3:25.34 Poland
Auto Qualifiers Heat 2:
3:22.38 Jamaica
3:24.81 Great Britain
3:24.94 Canada
Time Qualifiers:
3:25.16 Italy
3:25.71 Australia
Men
Auto Qualifiers Heat 1:2:58.29 Jamaica
2:58.38 United States
2:59.35 Botswana
Auto Qualifiers Heat 2:
2:59.25 Belgium
2:59.44 Bahamas
3:00.16 Cuba
Time Qualifiers:
2:59.58 Poland
3:00.43 Brazil
The women's and men's 4x400m relay finals will take place on Saturday, August 20 at 8:00PM and 8:35PM CST.
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports