American Brianna Rollins started out fast and never looked back.
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Brianna Rollins provided one of the gold medals when she won the Women’s 100-meter hurdles.
Although Rollins was unreachable, it came down to hundredths of seconds for the other two medals. Her teammates, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin, weren’t far behind, logging times of 12.59 and 12.61, respectively, to take all three spots on the medal podium.
Favourite Rollins, who owned the fastest personal best in the field, ran an nearly flawless race from lane six to add Olympic gold to her 2013 world title by a couple of paces in 12.48 seconds.
Two-time world champion Tianna Bartoletta also medaled for the Americans, winning gold in the long jump final with a personal best 7.17 meters.
Their medals Wednesday gave them 19 for the meet – five gold, seven silver and seven bronze – which is already one more than they won through the entire world championships past year in Beijing.
“We came out here to do the best that we could, and that’s what we did”, Rollins told NBC reporter Lewis Johnson following the victory.
In the sprints, Jamaica continued its dominance at these Games, as Elaine Thompson won gold in the women’s 200-meter dash.
Kristi Castlin made history alongside US teammates Brianna Rollins and Nia Ali in Rio on Wednesday and did so with a heavy heart.
Bolt crossed the finish line laughing with Canadian 100m bronze medallist Andre de Grasse, who clocked 19.80 and pushed him all the way.
Shortly after Bolt advanced to the final of the men’s 200-meter dash, Thompson won the race on the women’s side.
Allison Felix was favored to earn her fifth gold medal in Olympic Games competition but fell short when victor Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas lunged at the tape, narrowly defeating her in 49.44 for first place and the gold medal.
MI man Brian Diemer, who took the bronze back in 1984, had been the last American man to win a medal in the steeplechase.
One obstacle he won’t have to face toward the second of his triple-gold attempt in Rio will be Justin Gatlin, who surprisingly failed to advance to the 200 final and chalked up his result to an aggravated ankle injury. France took gold in the event, and Germany goes home with the bronze medal.
Four years ago, the USA went 2-3-4 in the event, with Dawn Harper-Nelson followed by Kellie Wells, who won the bronze, and Lolo Jones.
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The U.S. team was guaranteed a medal after defending women’s middleweight champ Claressa Shields won a unanimous decision over Russia’s Yaroslava Yakushina to move into the semifinals. The 100 hurdles sweep was the first by the U.S.in a women’s track and field event and the 61st track and field sweep by the U.S.to date.
