AMERICAN SWEEP: Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles to give the United States its first sweep in the event, its seventh in the history of Olympic track and the 23rd for US women, regardless of sport, over the history of the Summer Games.
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Ali won the second semi in 12.65 and Castlin, who trains with Rollins, led the third in 12.63.
Rollins led the US sweep of the 100-meter hurdles on Wednesday at the Rio Games.
Rollins, a former world champion, won the gold rather comfortably, but the race for silver and bronze was incredibly close.
WOMEN’S LONG JUMP: Tianna Bartoletta of the United States, a two-time world champion, finally has an Olympic gold medal, winning with a personal best of 23 feet, 5.2 inches. France took gold in the event, and Germany goes home with the bronze medal.
The 24-year-old Jamaican got off to a strong start in the 200 and held off reigning world champion Dafne Schippers, who belly flopped at the finish line, but finished.10 seconds behind. The nation entered the night with 13 medals and left the track with a total of 19, including five golds.
It took nearly a week’s worth of events, but an American finally got a gold medal on the track in Rio Wednesday.
She is a two-time US champion and 2013 World champion in the 100 meter hurdles. “Do your part, ‘” Ali said.
Brianna Rollins (C) has led a U.S. medal sweep in the women’s 100m hurdles in Sally Pearson’s absence. Harrison responded by running a world record 12.20 after the trials at a meet in London then she was watching Wednesday as those who beat her at the trials in Eugene came through with 1-2-3 at the Olympics.
“It’s like a sisterhood, Kristi and I train together and tonight we prayed together to give us the confidence we need to get us through these rounds and come out here and fulfil our dreams”.
Between events, the men’s 200-meter semifinals proved dramatic, with Andre De Grasse challenging Usain Bolt to a duel over the final meters, when Bolt typically slows to a jog to conserve energy for the final.
“I said, ‘What are you doing, it’s a semi-final?’ But I think he wanted to push me”. Bolt finished in 19.78 seconds and de Grasse in 19.80 to advance to the final.
USA legend Justin Gatlin (20.13) failed to qualify for the final of the 200 meters after placing third in his semifinal heat.
Ali admitted she had not expected to return to top flight competition so soon after giving birth to her son 15 months ago.
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“So I’m happy I was able to come back and come back so quickly and show people like hey, not only can I get fit but I can get back to the world-class performances with me and he plays a major role in that”.
