Kristi Castlin, Nia Ali and Brianna Rollins (from left) after a US sweep in the 100 hurdles.
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Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin just swept the women’s 100m hurdles and made Olympic history in the process.
Although Rollins was unreachable, it came down to hundredths of seconds for the other two medals.
Nia Ali pocketed the silver in Rio in 12.59 and Kristi Castlin took the bronze in 12.61.
The winning time of 12.48 seconds was well outside the 12.35 which Pearson ran to claim gold four years ago in London.
The 28-year-old Los Angeles-based sprinter claimed bronze behind gold medallist Brianna Rollins and Nia Ali in silver as the USA sealed a 1-2-3 in the event.
Rollins, the former American-record holder and 2013 world champion, had the fastest time at 12.47 seconds. “We came in and did it for girl power, for the United States of America, so we were actually able to do a first sweep in USA history”.
Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Tori Bowie of the US, the silver medalist in the 100 meters at Rio, are aiming for a showdown Wednesday in the women’s 200 meters.
Before Wednesday, no country had swept the Olympic women’s 100 hurdles final. The nation entered the night with 13 medals and left the track with a total of 19, including five golds.
Rollins has now won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship, two USA Championships and three NCAA Championships over her decorated career.
Bartoletta, 30, who won her world titles a decade apart in 2005 and 2015, responded on the fifth attempt to regain the lead with one round remaining.
The clean sweep was the first by any country in the 100m hurdles and the first by U.S. women in any Olympic event. During her time at Clemson, she won three NCAA titles and was named The Bowerman which goes to the sport’s top athlete. Ahmad and Natsir got to Wednesday’s gold medal match in Rio by beating Olympic champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China. “They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold”.
BOLT’S BACK: Bolt got out quickly in his 200 semifinal heat and started to coast down the final 40 meters. Germany’s Kai Kazmirek moved into second place, trailing Eaton by 121 points.
The U.S. women’s water polo team locked up a spot in its gold-medal match by beating Hungary, 14-10.
“Probably, I should have rested it instead of running on it”, said Gatlin, who finished second to Bolt in the 100.
Jutanugarn wound up with a 6-under 65 for a one-shot lead over Inbee Park and Seiyoung Kim, both of South Korea.
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The last time an American medaled in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase was in 1984, when Brian Diemer secured the bronze.
