Yego held on for silver despite sustaining an injury, winning his country’s first ever medal in a field event ahead of Keshorn Walcott, who won Trinidad & Tobago’s first medal of the Rio Games. It was so unlikely an outcome that even he couldn’t believe it.
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“I’m extremely happy”, said Bartoletta after the race. His time was 3:50:00. “When I’m gone, all my kids will have something of me”.
The fact that when the USA team wanted a rerun, it got a rerun also provides an insight into the United States hegemony in handling sports disputes.
I’ve covered track in eastern Idaho long enough to have met a good number of local high school athletes who admire Centrowitz, some of have attended his OR track camps.
Centrowitz went to the University of OR, home of the late Steve Prefontaine – the training partner of his father before Pre’s death in a vehicle accident at the age of 24.
Farah spends much of his time in the USA and often trains with Centrowitz.
Security scares, transport problems and public apathy are among the problems that have bedevilled South America’s first Games, but Olympics chief Thomas Bach hailed the event as “iconic”. Their appeal was upheld, and Lagat was bumped down to fifth place.
The worst part (as if it could get any worse) was that the US team has flubbed handing off the baton event many times before. He was timed in 13:03.90 to the magnificent Farah’s 13:03.30.
South African runner Caster Semenya completed a convincing victory in the 800m to win her first Olympic gold, four years after being denied gold by Russian dope cheat Mariya Savinova.
Allyson Felix of the United States celebrates as her team wins the Olympic 1,600-meter relay on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.
Jamaica took silver and Britain got bronze in the relay race.
Later, Britain’s Farah headlined the last night of track and field as he won a thrilling 5,000m race to earn the first consecutive 5,000m-10,000m doubles in 40 years.
Courtney Okolo got the Americans out front quickly and Natasha Hastings and Francis kept the United States in position before Allyson Felix brought the Americans home in 3:19.06.
Felix set off calmly on her anchor leg pursued by Novlene Williams-Mills, the 34-year-old veteran who underwent a double mastectomy following the 2012 Olympics after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Victory may not get Brazil into the top 10 of the Olympic medals table but it was the one gold the country wanted. “I am so blessed”. “Track and field is such a big part of my life”. The US never relinquished it, pushed by Jamaica but well clear of the rest of the field.
The U.S. men’s 1,600-meter relay also prevailed over their Jamaican rivals.
Arman Hall, Tony McQuay and Gil Roberts combined to give Merritt a two meter lead and the former 400m Olympic and world champion extended that to seven to win in two minutes, 57.30 seconds. Here are the five biggest events you won’t want to miss on Saturday.
Matthew Centrowitz is among the favorites in the men’s 1,500 final. “These women are strong”. I still have all of them.
But she was better for the experience.
“Unfortunately you know running at that speed and getting hit by something is just a freak accident, and I really wish it didn’t happen the way that it did, but unfortunately it did”.
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She wasn’t alone in feeling that way.
