Tokyo Olympics: Jamaican eves end US’ reign in 100m relay
Tokyo: The Jamaican women added the 4×100-metre relay title to their Tokyo Olympic collection after sweeping the podium in the 100-meter final. The Jamaican team won in a national record 41.02 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in history and ended the U.S. team’s push for a third consecutive Olympic gold in the event.
The American team of Javianne Oliver, Teahna Daniels, Jenna Prandini and Gabrielle Thomas won silver in 41.45 and Britain took bronze in 41.88.
Elaine Thompson-Herah won the 100 metres on Saturday in an Olympic record. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was second and Shericka Jackson was third in that race. Those three joined Briana Williams as the Jamaicans added the Olympic relay title to their world championship gold in 2019.
Liu Shiying of China triumphed in the women’s javelin at the Tokyo Games. She led all the way after throwing 66.34 meters in the first round. Liu passed on her sixth and final attempt after being assured of the gold. She instead raced to the stands behind the competition area and grabbed a Chinese flag to begin the celebrations. Liu was a silver medalist at the 2019 world championships.
Faith Kipyegon of Kenya retained her 1,500 metres Olympic title as Sifan Hassan’s chase for three gold medals withered in her fifth of six races at the Tokyo Games. Kipyegon won in an Olympic-record time of 3 minutes, 53.11 seconds. Laura Muir of Britain took the silver in 3:54.50 and Hassan clung on for bronze after she started fading on the back straight. Hassan already has a gold in the 5,000 metres and could still complete a rare set if she wins a third medal in the 10,000-metre final on Saturday.
Allyson Felix won her record 10th Olympic track medal with a bronze in the 400 metres. She finished two spots behind gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo. Miller-Uibo defended her 400-meter title in a time of 48.36 seconds. Felix now has more Olympic track and field medals than any woman in history. She came into the Tokyo Games even with Jamaican runner Merlene Ottey. Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic finished second a full .84 seconds behind Miller-Uibo. It was a far less dramatic finish than in 2016 when Miller-Uibo dived at the finish line to edge out Felix for the gold.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda won the gold medal in the men’s 5,000-metre race a week after earning silver in the 10,000 at the Tokyo Games. Chepetgei was in the leading pack for most of the race and won in 12 minutes, 58.15 seconds. Mohammed Ahmed of Canada surged into second place to get the silver medal in 12:58.61 and Paul Chelimo of the United States picked up bronze in 12:59.05.
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