BEIJING - It was anything but easy for either athlete, but Shalane
Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.) overcame incredible odds to take bronze in
the greatest women's 10,000m in history, and Christian Cantwell
(Columbia, Mo.) persevered to win his first career Olympic medal, a
silver in the men's shot put, Friday evening at the "Bird's Nest"
National Stadium.
Astounding bronze for Flanagan
The American record holder in the 10,000 and 5,000m, Flanagan had
endured six hours of intense gastrointestinal distress, in the form of
vomiting and diarrhea, Tuesday evening at Team USA training camp in
Dalian, China. She continued to have gastrointestinal problems while
working out for the next two days, and at one point her participation in
Friday's 10,000 was up in the air. But Flanagan gave it a go, and was
part of history as a result.
Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands led practically from the gun, towing
a lead group of 18 runners - including Americans Flanagan and Kara
Goucher (Portland, Ore.) through 71-second and then 73-second laps.
Kiplagat covered the first km in 3:00, the second in 3:00, the third in
3:04 and the fourth in 3:03. A lead pack of 15 passed 5 km in 15:09.98
with little change in the race. Flanagan sat in eighth and Goucher in
11th as Amy Yoder-Begley (Portland, Ore.) was approximately 175m back
from the leaders.
Just past 6 km, covered in 19:13.5, Kiplagat, Elvan Abeylegesse of
Turkey and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia began trading the lead. Linet
Chepkwemoi Masai of Kenya moved up to third as Kiplagat began to drop
back, with Lucy Kabuu Wangui of Kenya fourth to round out the lead pack.
Flanagan moved up to fifth as 7 km was covered by the leaders in
21:14.46 and 8 km in 24:09.40. The pace was dropping rapidly, leaving
Abeylegesse and Dibaba to duke it out for gold as they hit 9 km in
27:06:02.
With three laps to go, Flanagan moved up to fourth and was gaining on
Masai, who approximately half a second ahead of the American record
holder. Flanagan passed with 800m go to and looked all but assured of
bronze.
Ahead of Flanagan, history was being made. In a furious final 400,
Dibaba was first to the finish in 29:54.66, setting an Olympic record
and becoming only the second woman to dip under 30:00 for the 10,000.
Abeylegesse was second in an area record 29:56.32, with Flanagan next
across in an American-record time of 30:22.22, breaking her own mark of
30:35.34 set in her 10 km debut earlier this year and becoming the
second American woman ever to medal in this event at the Games. Lynn
Jennings also won bronze in 1992. Masai was fourth in a world junior and
Kenyan national record of 30:26.50. Goucher ended 10th in a
personal-best 30:55.16, with Yoder-Begley 26th in 32:38.28.
Coming on the heels of Goucher's bronze medal at the 2007 World
Championships in Osaka, Flanagan's performance marked the second
consecutive major international championship in which an American has
won a medal in the women's 10,000.
Cantwell comes through
The shot was much more dramatic than anticipated for opposite reasons,
with early throwing keeping the Americans on the edge of their seats.
After three rounds, the field of 12 was cut down with only the top eight
throwers continuing. After two rounds, world indoor champion Christian
Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.) sat in second with 20.98m/68-10, but world
outdoor champion Reese Hoffa was 10th at 19.81m/65-0. Hoffa moved to an
eventual seventh with a third-round toss of 20.53m/67-8.25, while
Cantwell dropped to third, but both men made the cut.
Struggling with a rib injury, two-time silver medalist Adam Nelson
(Charlottesville, Va.) fouled on all of his first three attempts - the
first two throws landing outside the left side of the sector, and his
third throw a foot foul. He did not make the final cut.
In the meantime, Tomas Majewski of Poland, who had a personal best in
the qualifying round, set new personal bests several more times during
the first four rounds of the final, including a fourth-round throw of
21.51m/70-7, to sit in first place. Cantwell was bumped to fifth place
with Hoffa remaining in seventh after four rounds.
Hoffa never improved on his 19.81m and remained in seventh, but Cantwell
saved his best throw for last, a mark of 21.09m/69-2.5, to move from
fifth to second in the sixth and final round of throwing. Majewski
remained in the gold-medal position, while Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus
was third with 21.05m/69-0.75.
Fountain comes back in heptathlon
Hyleas Fountain (Kettering, Ohio) entered evening competition in first
place in the heptathlon, after two morning events. After the third event
of the day, the shot put, Fountain fell from first to second with a best
toss of 13.36m/43-10. Natalia Dobrynska of Ukraine broke the world
record for the heptathlon shot with her throw of 17.29m/56-8.75,
breaking the WR of 17.03m/55-10.5.
But Fountain came back strong in the day's last event, the 200m, posting
a big personal best of 23.21 in the 200 (1058) to retake the lead with
4,060 points. Dobrynska was in second overall with 3,996. Jacquelyn
Johnson (Tempe, Ariz.) was in 22nd place with 3592 points after marks of
11.82m/38-9.5 in the shot put (649) and 24.74 in the 200 (911).
Two advance in women's discus, steeplechase
Stephanie Brown-Trafton (Galt, Calif.) had the best mark in Group A of
the women's discus qualifying round with a third-attempt mark of
62.77m/205-11, and Team USA captain Aretha Thurmond (Federal Way, Wash.)
automatically advanced from Group B with a mark of 61.90m/203-1, as two
Americans made the final. Suzy Powell-Roos (Modesto, Calif.) had a best
of 58.02m/190-4 and did not make the cut.
In the semifinal round of the women's steeplechase, American record
holder Jenny Barringer (Boulder, Colo.) was third in heat 2 in 9:29.20
to automatically advance to Sunday's final, while Anna Willard (Ann
Arbor, Mich.) qualified on time by placing sixth in the heat 3 in
9:28.52. Lindsey Anderson (Ogden, Utah) was eighth in heat 1 in 9:36.81
and will not compete in the final.
Moving to semis
All three U.S. men's 1,500m runners advanced to compete in Sunday's
semifinal round. With the top five finishers in each heat and the next
four fastest men advancing, world champion Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.)
made it by placing fourth in the second heat in 3:41.98, and Lopez
Lomong (Colorado Springs, Colo.) did so by placing fifth in heat 3 in
3:36.70. NCAA champ Leonel Manzano (Austin, Texas) was in the quickest
heat of the night, the first, and was sixth in 3:36.67, advancing as the
second-fastest non-automatic qualifier.
All three men's 100m runners moved to Saturday's semifinal round by
taking second in their respective heats. Tyson Gay (Lexington, Ky.) was
second in heat 2 in 10.09, Darvis Patton (Ft. Worth, Texas) was second
in heat 4 in 10.04, and Walter Dix (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) was second in
heat 5 in 10.08.
The men's 400m hurdles quarterfinal round was a qualification sweep,
with2005 world champ Bershawn Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.) winning heat 1 in
49.20, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor (Decatur, Ga.) winning
heat 2 in 48.67, and world champion Kerron Clement (Los Angeles, Calif.)
taking the third heat in 49.42
The women's triple jumpers found less success in their qualifying round.
Struggling with an injured hamstring, Erica McLain (Plano, Texas) was
26th in qualifying with a mark of 13.52m/44-4.25, and Shani Marks
(Brooklyn Park, Minn.) was 28th with 13.44m/44-1.25.
For more information on Team USA at the Olympic Games, including athlete
quotes, event schedule, TV schedule and complete results, visit .
Day 1 Team USA Quotes - evening session
Men's shot put final
Adam Nelson (Charlottesville, Va.): "I'm not going to make any excuses.
It's inexcusable. This is what I do for a living. To not make a final
after seven years of making finals, it's inexcusable. I was just off
today. It was unfortunate. Ultimately I did my best. I was really lucky
to make the final and make the second round of qualifying."
Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.): I just wasn't executing. I didn't do what I
needed to do to get on the podium. I would have loved to have moved
higher in the placings but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.): I'm a little torn right now. 21.51
(meters) is not that good. I would have liked a couple more throws. My
last throw was my best throw and I'll take it. We're (the Americans) so
good, there really was no pressure. When my last mark came up silver I
was happy.
I feel gut shot right now to be honest with you. It was doable. On a
hard day, I guess I'll take silver. It was a hard day for everyone. The
kid from Poland found a way to get it done. My hat is off to him, he won
it. I didn't do my job, none of the Americans did their job. I'll take
the silver home. We've got a lot of work to do.
Women's 10,000m final
Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.): I was in such a zone. My coach said
to fall asleep for a couple laps and then give it go. I ran my hardest
and tried to give it my best. I was just running so within myself trying
to stay calm.
Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.): My pace was quick and I started to get
hot and I made a major mistake. I let that be my excuse.
Amy Yoder-Begley (Beaverton, Ore.): The three of us came from similar
backgrounds. We all see how hard we all work. It's very encouraging for
us. I had 13 people in the stands (cheering me on). I would like to
drift into the marathon. If I can stay healthy for a year, I definitely
will do a marathon.
Men's 1500m, 1st round
Leonel Manzano (Austin, Texas): "That was the best race of my life. I
went out and ran my heart out. I gave it two really good shots to get
out front. On the second they just ran by me. When you get here those
are the guys to beat. It's really tough when you're competing against
the best of the best. I can't really say I'm disappointed, I ran the
best time of my life."
Bernard Lagat (Tuscon, Ariz.): "I wanted to make sure I was in good
position. At the bell, I was in really good position. I had to kick from
outside. At 200, I was in. I had to kick again from the outside. That's
something I'm going to avoid in the semifinals. It's not that I'm going
to try, I'm going to have to avoid it. I ran the way I wanted. The pace
was a little slow. "
Lopez Lomong (Colorado Springs, Colo.): "I just had to go out there and
get my feet wet again. I had to go out there and secure a spot. Now I'm
moving to the next line, step by step. My country has given me a lot of
support. It was my first race and now I know how to tackle it. You go
out there and tackle it and keep going. It's a little different race for
me."
Men's 100m 2nd round
Tyson Gay (Lexington, Ky.): "I felt good. I felt pretty relaxed. I just
wanted to make it through to the next round. Yes, my leg felt alright."
Darvis Patton (Ft. Worth, Texas): "I just advanced. I don't care if I
ran at the end or at the beginning. It's all about advancing. Anybody in
a track meet can beat anybody at any time."
Women's Discus qualifying
Aretha Thurmond (Federal Way, Washington): "It was a very good day. I
had some great warm-ups that got me comfortable with the ring. I did it
(qualified) on my second throw. It was a decent throw, it keeps me
alive. That was the goal. Now we can get our eyes on the podium."
Stephanie Brown-Trafton (Galt, Calif.): "Today was an awesome day. It
was a rough start, but I told myself to relax. The third round was
great. Once I made it to the final I was good. Anything can happen in
the final. I'm really glad to get out of the first round and make it to
the final. I just have to relax. I'm going to get great experience and
hopefully a medal."
Suzy Powell-Roos (Modesto, Calif.): "It's disappointing. 61.50 is not a
terribly difficult qualifying mark, so not to make it tonight was tough.
I'll go back and take a shower and soak it in. My margin for error is
very small and precise."
Women's 3,000 Steeplechase semifinals
Anna Willard (Ann Arbor, Mich.): "I was just trying my hardest. This
year I really wanted to go out and compete. "
Jennifer Barringer (Boulder, Colo.): "I am thrilled. I said last year
that I never want to come to an Olympics or a World Championships and
not make the finals. I feel like I made good on that promise. I wanted
to race for of running another one."
Lindsay Anderson (Ogden, Utah): "I was definitely going for place. It
went out fast like I expected. I just wasn't able to fill that gap.
After the first few laps, my breathing felt fine. My legs just weren't
there. I think it's about 155 degrees hotter in the stadium than it is
outside and I wasn't expecting that. ... I might take a break, start a
family. I'm just as excited to start a family as I am to compete."
Men's 400m hurdles quarterfinals
Bershawn Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.): "It felt great. The first round is the
hardest but I got through. There's two more to go."
Angelo Taylor (Decatur, Ga.): "I just worked on my race plan. I got out
well. I worked the curve. When I came off the curve I said, 'Oh my
goodness, I don't see anybody'. I looked back and saw I had a huge lead
and I cruised right in. I'm concentrating on running one race. I've been
hitting my splits."
Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Fla.): I just wanted to control the race
and that's what I did from start to finish. I'm in the best shape of my
life right now.
It's my first Olympics and I ran very good. Now I just have to focus on
the next round.
Women's triple jump qualifying
Shani Marks (Brooklyn Park, Minn.): It just wasn't my day. The
experience has been wonderful, today wasn't.
Erica McLain (Plano, Texas): I tore my hamstring (high grade tear) on
July 20 and I guess I just didn't have enough time to recover. I came
out here and gave it my all. This is the Olympics.
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