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After Jamaica produced fastest woman and Bolt’s
sprint double ...:
USA takes 4x100m women’s relay in world record time
Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from England
OLYMPICS: LONDON, Aug. 11 - It has been a ding dong battle for track
supremacy between Jamaica and the USA at the 2012 Olympic Games here.
After Jamaica produced the fastest woman at the London Olympics and that
Usain Bolt’s grand sprint double, it was the USA which came back into
the picture winning women’s 4 x 100m gold medal.
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Happy together after that World Record - the United States
women’s 4x100 metres relay all smiles after their record
breaking time of 40.82 seconds that erased the 27 years-old
world record held by East Germany at 41.37 seconds. The
team: Biance Knight, Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter and
Tianna Madison. AFP |
The American lasses not only bagged the gold but did it in grand
style with a new world record in the 4 x 100m relay but also denied
Jamaica yet another sprint gold, providing the highlight of another
dramatic day at the Olympic Stadium last night. The US quartet of Tianna
Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter combined
effectively and sprinted to an emphatic win, clocking just 40.82
seconds. That erased the 27-year-old world record held by East Germany -
41.37. Jamaican women clocked a new national record of 41.41 seconds,
but that too was far behind the stunning performance of the USA team.
Ukraine took the bronze.
The outstanding performance of USA’s 4 x 100m women’s relay team
helped them to take sweet revenge after Jamaica once again dominated the
sprints at London 2012 with a clean sweep in the men’s 200m. “I knew we
had won. Everyone ran an incredible leg. We were able to get the stick
around and we were able to get the gold medal and the world record, I
knew that right away. ‘I knew we were moving, I knew we were running
very well and so I was excited.,” Jeter said after USA’s record breaking
feat.
Felix, who won the women’s 200m said that it was a big relief. “It is
a joy, it is everything. We went into this race the most comfortable I
have seen this team. We were laughing and smiling. We have never been
like that,” she said.
France’s Renaud Lavillenie took gold after an exciting pole vault
final in an Olympic record 5.97m.
Lavillenie looked set for bronze when he failed his first attempt at
5.91m, but passed the height before making his second and final attempt
at the next one. Germans Bjorn Otto took the silver with 5.91m, ahead of
fellow countryman Raphael Holzdeppe who took the bronze medal.
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The Bahamas 4x400 metres men’s relay champs - from left:
Chris Bown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon
Miller celebrate after winning the 4x400 metres relay.
Bahama won in a National Record timing of 2 mins 56.72
seconds to finish 0.33 seconds ahead of the USA with
Trinidad taking the Bronze. AFP |
“I can’t really believe it. Maybe tomorrow I will wake up and realise
that I am an Olympic champion. The Germans were very strong and they
pushed me to my limits.
This has to be the best thing in my life.,” Lavillenie said.
Bahamas win men’s 4x400m relay
However, Bahamas did not allow USA to taste double success in relays
last night. Bahamas accounted for their first 2012 Olympic Games track
gold medal as they beat the USA to win the men’s 4 x 400m title.
The Bahamas quartet of Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu
and Ramon Miller ran a national record timing of two minutes and 56.72
seconds to finish 0.33 seconds ahead of the USA, with Trinidad taking
the bronze.
“The US guys know we’ve been just behind them or thereabouts for a
long time, but it’s amazing we are finally taking home the gold. This is
for everyone back home. We can’t wait to celebrate,” said Miller who did
the anchor lap for victorious Bahamas team.
Russian Lysenko wins women’s hammer throw
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Frances Renaud Lavillenie up in the air during his Pole
Vault effort to win the Gold Medal for men at the Olympic
Games clearing a height of 5.97 metres which was an Olympic
Games record height. AFP
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The American team were watched by Manteo Mitchell, who ran on a
broken leg in yesterday’s semi-final. “I am heartbroken for them. You
never know what I could have done,” he said.
Asli Cakir Alptekin of Turkey took gold in the women’s 1,500m final,
winning a slow race in four minutes and 10.23 seconds. Alptekin finished
ahead of compatriot Gamze Bulut, with Bahrain’s Maryam Yusuf Jamal
third.
Russian Tatyana Lysenko won gold in the women’s hammer throw with an
Olympic record of 78.18m.
She led all the way through the competition, having thrown 77.56m
with her first attempt, before going even further with her penultimate
effort. Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk took the silver with a final throw of
77.60m, while the bronze went to Germany’s Betty Heidler.
Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar claimed gold in the 5000m final, denying her
compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba the chance to add another title to the
10,000m crown she won a week ago.
Defar, who won 5000m gold eight years ago at Athens 2004, held off
her challengers down the home straight to win in 15 minutes and 4.25
seconds. Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot was second with Dibaba getting the
bronze.
“I’m very happy. It’s a great day for me. Since 2008 I have tried
everything as I wasn’t able to win the Olympics,” Defar said. |
