byLarry EderJamaica has now won four of the six sprint medals so far given out in Beijing, with Usain Bolt’s insane 100 meter world record last night and now, with the Jamaican Sweep in the women’s 100 meters!
Beijing Diary,
August 17, 2008
Day Three, Olympic Track & Field
Evening Session
On Medal counts
You know how much I despise them, but since Mr. Pat Butcher, doing a column each day for the Finanical Times had a few moments, he decided to provide me with some real medal numbers”
China-27 gold 13 silver 7 bronze
British Empire and former assets ( US under the asset moniker) 30 gold 27silver 39 bronze
that is as of yesterday, August 16, 2008
Oh, Congratulations to Mr. Phelps on his eighth medal! He now has more medals than Nurmi (11),
Carl Lewis (9) and Ray Ewry (8-look him up). I do think his performances are exceptional,
Women’s 100 meter hurdles, first round
Josephine Nkiruka Onyai of Spain won the first heat in 1268. Susanna Kallur of Sweden, who has had injury challenges all season, ran brilliantly, taking second here in 12.68.
In the second heat, Vonette Dixon of Jamaica ran a seasonal best of 12.69 to take the second heat. Priscilla Lopes Schliep of Canada took second in 12.75 with Cherry Damu of the US in third in 12.92.
In the third heat, Delloreen Ennis London of Jamaica ran a nice 12.82 to win her qualifying heat, with Sally McLellan of Australia in second, hurdling a strong 12.83.
In heat four, Lo Lo Jones, of the US, the world indoor champion hurdled a fine 12.71k with Anay Tejeda of Cuba in econd in 12.84. Reina Flor Okori of France hurdled 12.98.
In my mind, this is Lo Lo Jones with Josepine Onayi of Spain and Susanna Kallur of Sweden. All three looked good in this first round, we will have to wait and see how this race plays itself out.
Women’s 100 meter semi finals
Semi Final 1
In the first semi final , Shelly Anne Frasier of Jamaica went out strong, followed by Muna Lee of the US on her left and Lauryn Williams of the US on her right. Frasier was running well, taking the semi in 11.00 for the first qualifying spot. Muna Lee of the US took the second spot in 11.06. Lauryn Williams gutted herself through the final twenty meters, taking third in 11.10. Sherone Simpson of Jamaica took fourth in 11. 11.
Bahamas Chandra Stirrup of the Bahamas did not advance as she ran 11.22
Semi Final 2
Kerron Stewart of Jamaica, smiling before the start, overcame the fine start of Torri Edwards of the US to take first in 11.05 and jogged off the track nearly faster than she ran. Torri Edwards of the US was second in 11.18. In third, Jeanette Kwakye of Great Britain took third in 11.19 and Debbie McKenzie Ferguson of the Bahamas took fourth in 11.22.
So, for the final of the women’s 100 meters, we have three US sprinters, three Jamaican sprinters, one from the Great Britain and one from the Bahamas. My picks? Muna Lee, Lauryn Williams, Shelly Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart.
Women’s 400 meter intermediate hurdles
Tiffany Ross Williams is running to win. Her aggressive sprinting, her competent hurdling gave her te win here in 55.51. Irina Obedina of Russia was second in 55.71 and Satomi Kubokura of Japan was third in 55.82. Obedina commented, ” Usually I start a little slower and speed up at the finish but at today’s race, it seems the start was faster and I slowed down in the last few meters. ”
Tiffany Ross Wiliams, after the race expressed her feeling this way: ” (My coach) set me up well to make me be able to kick well. I still have confidence and Iook forward to go there and get a medal for my country. We have a great team. ”
Tasha Danvers of Great Britain took the second heat in 55.19, her seasonal best. Anastasia Ott of Russia took second in 55.34, with Nickiesha Wilson of Jamaica in third in 55.75 and Angela Morasanu of Romania in 56.07. Danvers, commented, on her qualifying for the semi finals: ” Three hamstring injuries, two Achilles tendon injuries and a virus later, and I am still standing. I am pleased to represent Great Britain.”
Melanie Walker of Jamaica ran 54.46 for the fast time of the day in heat three. Anastasiya Rechenyuk of the Ukraine was second in 55.18. Cvetelina Kirilova of Bulgaria ran for third in 55.22, a personal best.
Ekaterina Bikert of Russia took first in 55.15 with Anna Jesien of Poland in second in 55.35 and Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic in third in 55.91.
Men’s Hammer Throw, Final
The hammer throw, an event where you get to throw a sixteen pound metal ball with a chain, what else would one want to do in an early Sunday evening n Beijing? Well, Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia had an excellent evening. His series of 80.75m, 82.02m, 80.79m, 80.64m, 80.98m and 80.85 meters just about said it, but the 82.02 meters in the second round was the winning throw.
Vadim Devyatovskiy of Belarus threw 79.61m, 81.61 meters, then a foul, another fould, 80.86m and a final foul! His second throw of 81.61 meters sealed the silver.
Ivan Tsikan, the 2007 World champion hit 78.40m, 80.56m, 79.59m, 78.89m, 81.51m and finally, 80.87 meters, with his fifth round of 81.51meters taking the bronze!
Kristian Pars of Hungary finished fourth, with his best throw in the second round in 80.96 meters.
Koji Murifushi of Japan, threw 79.47m, 80.71m, 79.94m, 77.96m, 78.22m and 77.26 meters, with his best throw in the second round. The 2004 gold medalist could not improve on that throw and finished in fifth.
Primoz Kozmus and his team had much to celebrate. First, Kozmus’ gold in the hammer throw was the first gold EVER for his country. Primoz had this observation: ” You can not go out and say you will win a medal, you must make it happen…I am happy this is my dream come true, I am very satisfied with the result. Its the first gold medal for Slovenia in the track and field events..I have problems with my technique, but it was pretty good in the final…”
Silver medalist Vadim Devyatovskiy of Belarus noted, ” I felt a lot of energy today. I did my best but I am still happy. It is important to win medals but I think more about my country. ”
Bronze medalist Ivan Tsikhan of Belarus noted, ” I had a technical problem, so I could not show my best. Obviously I wanted the gold, but I am satisfied because this is the Olympic Games.
Women’s 100 meters, Final–Jamaica Sweeps!
Shelly Ann Fraser of Jamaica overcame a mediocre start, overcoming the strong starts of Sherrone Simpson and Lauryn Willams and focusing through the finish, won the 100 meter final here in 10.78, a personal best and a world leader!
Sherrone Simpson, who got out of the blocks the second fastest (.155), caught Lauryn Williams and ran a 10.98 for the silver. Kerron Stewart, the third Jamaican, had a very slow start, ” I thought that there was a false start, and I was just waiting for the call back, but the race is over and ou just put it behind you.” noted Stewart, who held on for third, and had the same time as Simpson, with her 10.98.
Lauryn Williams, the gold medalist from Helsinki, the silver medalist from Osaka and the silver medalist from Athens, had the best start, (.149) and ran a strong race, but her 11.03 was not strong enough to get into the top three. Munal Lee had the slowest start of this final and finished fourth, not able to overcome the slow start, running 11.07. Jeanette Kwakye of Great Britian, ran 11.14 for 100 meters, a personal best, in sixth place. Debbie Ferguson McKenzie of the Bahamas, ran 11.19 for seventh place and Torri Edwards, who also thought the race was a false start, ran 11.20.
In the end, false start or not, the race was on and the Jamaicans ran well, giving their small country it’s first sweep in the 100 meters!
