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Olympic Athletics Recaps: 31 July (Day 12)

Women's 400m Hurdles Final

HEMMINGS Only Gets Faster

In Mondays's 400m hurdles semifinals, Deon HEMMINGS (JAM) ran an Olympic record. She bettered that tonight by .17 seconds to grab the gold medal from world record holder Kim BATTEN (USA). HEMMINGS made up the stagger on BATTEN by the 200m mark, but BATTEN fought back to make it even by the final hurdle. In the end the Jamaican had the better run-in, making her the first woman from her country to win a gold medal.

Medalists: Deon HEMMINGS (JAM), 52.82; Kim BATTEN (USA), 53.08; Tonja BUFORD-BAILEY (USA), 53.22.

"My coach said all I had to do was go out and run the first 300 as we had practiced and make sure I didn't fade in the last 100. It was a perfect start," said HEMMINGS.


Men's 800m Final

RODAL Grinds It Out at the End

In a fast men's 800m final, Vebjoern RODAL (NOR) was the fastest over the last 5 meters, hanging on for an electrifying gold. Following Johnny GRAY (USA) for a fast 49.55 seconds opening 400m, RODAL jumped just after 200m and swept past the American out of the curve. Chased by Hezekiel SEPENG (RSA), Fred ONYANCHA (KEN) and Norberto TELLEZ (CUB), RODAL dug deep in the last strides for the win. The Norwegian set an Olympic record with his win, and dragged the next three under 1:43, the first time that has ever happened.

Medalists: Vebjoern RODAL (NOR), 1:42.58; Hezekiel SEPENG (RSA), 1:42.79; Fred ONYANCHA (KEN), 1:42.85.

"I knew Johnny GRAY would take it out fast, and I just tried to hang in there and run my own race. You have to concentrate 100 percent to make it right. Tonight I did this," said RODAL.


Women's 100m Hurdles Final

ENGQUIST Caps a Great Year

Ludmila ENGQUIST (SWE) ran the quickest over the final five hurdles to cap a standout year with a gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles. Brigita BUKOVIC (SLO) got out hard and led over the first half, before ENGQUIST made her move, finally towing in the Slovakian on the seventh hurdle. It was barely enough, as she won a 12.58-12.59 decision over BUKOVIC. The race for the bronze was just as tight, with Patricia GIRARD-LENO (FRA) outleaning Gail DEVERS (USA) by .01 seconds.

Medalists: Ludmila ENGQUIST (SWE), 12.58; Brigita BUKOVIC (SLO), 12.59; Patricia GIRARD-LENO (FRA), 12.65.

"After four rounds, in the final I was very tired. I did not have a good start because of this, but I was very happy to win," said ENGQUIST.


Women's Triple Jump Final

World Record Holder KRAVETS Now Has Olympic Record, and the Gold

Sitting in second place for the first half of the competition, world record holder Inessa KRAVETS (UKR) bounded 15.33 meters on her fifth jump. Normally inconsistent, KRAVETS was on tonight, jumping over 14.40m on four fair attempts. Inna LASOVSKAYA (RUS), who led after three jumps at 14.98 meters, could not improve in the second half and had to rely on a backup jump for the silver. Sarka KASPARKOVA (CZE) also hit 14.98 meters in the opening round, but lost to LASOVSKAYA on her second jump by just 1 centimeter.

Gold, Inessa KRAVETS (UKR), 15.33; Silver, Inna LASOVSKAYA (RUS), 14.98; Bronze, Sarka KASPARKOVA (CZE), 14.98.


Men's Discus Final

RIEDEL Spins Big One When He Needs It

Ticketed only for a fourth-place finish following three rounds, three-time world champion armed a big discus throw when he needed it, hitting an Olympic record 69.40 meters in the fifth frame for the gold. He outdistanced silver medalist Vladimir DUBROVSHCIK (BLR) by 2.80 meters. Vasiliy KAPTUKH (BLR) relegated Anthony WASHINGTON (USA), the world's longest thrower this year, to fourth with his 65.80 meters platter in round three.

Medalists: Lars RIEDEL (GER), 69.40; Vladimir DUBROVSCHIK (BLR), 66.60; Vasiliy KAPTYUKH (BLR), 65.80.

"This is the highlight of my career. You will always be an Olympic champion," said RIEDEL.


Decathlon Final, Day 1

Solid First Day Puts O'BRIEN on Pace

Strong high jumps and 400m put Dan O'BRIEN (USA) firmly in control on the first day of the decathlon. O'BRIEN started solidly, if unspectacularly in his first two events, the 100 and 200, and briefly sat in second. But a 2.07-meter high jump, second best in the competition, and a closing 46.33-meters put him 124 points up on Frank BUSEMAN (GER). The medal battle should be entertaining on day two, with just 46 points separating second and sixth.

Top Scores: Dan O'BRIEN (USA), 4592; Frank BUSEMAN (GER), 4468; Erki NOOL (EST), 4451; Chris HUFFINS (USA), 4448; Eduard HAMALAINEN (BLR), 4443; Tomas DVORAK (CZE), 4422.


Women's 1500m Qualifying

MARKOVA Off to Good Start in Second Half of Double

Romania's Grabriela SZABO was the fastest of 24 qualifiers for tomorrow's women's 1500m semifinals, but 800m gold medal winner Svetalana MARKOVA (RUS) looked tough in controlling her section. Sonia O'SULLIVAN (IRL), who dropped out of the 5000m on Sunday where she was favored, failed to qualify for the 1500 semifinals. She finished 10th in heat two in a tired-looking 4:19.77. Maria MUTOLA (MOZ), third in the 800, did not start.

Top Qualifiers: Gabriela SZABO (ROM), 4:07.32; Kelly HOLMES (GBR), 4:07.36; Regina JACOBS (USA), 4:07.41; Margaret CROWLEY (AUS), 4:07.51; Malgorzata RYDZ (POL), 4:07.51; Lyudmila ROGACHOVA (RUS), 4:07.61.


Pole Vault Qualifying

A Couple of Big Names Go Down in Vault

Always a mercurial event, two big names failed to clear a height and did not advance to Friday's pole vault final. Nursing an inflamed achilles tendon, world record holder Sergey BUBKA (UKR) was unable to start after warming up. Okkert BRITS (RSA), second highest vaulter in the world this year behind BUBKA, no heighted at 5.60m. The top four jumpers all made 5.70 meters without a miss.

Top Qualifiers: Pyotr BOCHKARYOV (RUS), 5.70; Riaan BOTHA (RSA), 5.70; Alain ANDJI (FRA), 5.70; Tim LOBINGER (GER), 5.70; Jeff HARTWIG (USA), 5.70; Jean GALFIONE (FRA), 5.70.


Women's Shot Put Qualifying

Another Win for KUMBERNUSS

Astrid KUMBERNUSS (GER) hasn't lost a shot competition in two years, and the first round of the Olympic women's competition was no different. KUMBERNESS qualified with the longest throw by almost 60 centimeters. LI Meisu (CHN) was 14th and finished out of the qualifying, while defending Olympic champion Svetlana KRIVELYOVA (RUS) was 15th.

Top Qualifiers: Astrid KUMBERNUSS (GER) 19.93; SUI Xinmei (CHN), 19.36; Stephanie STORP (GER), 19.29; Valentyna FEDYUSHYNA (UKR), 19.22; Connie PRICE-SMITH (USA), 19.08; Vita PAVLYSH (UKR).


Men's 200m Qualifying

Easy Round for JOHNSON; Other Contenders In Semifinals, Too

Just as he did in the opening rounds of the 400m, Michael JOHNSON (USA) made it look easy in the 200m quarterfinals. JOHNSON ran the third fastest time of the day, 20.37 seconds, while easing down the homestretch. Ato BOLDON (TRI) and Frank FREDERICKS (NAM) also looked very confident, but Linford CHRISTIE (GRB) was only fifth in his heat and did not advance.

Top Qualifiers: Ato BOLDON (TRI), 20.25; Ivan GARCIA (CUB), 20.36; Michael JOHNSON (USA), 20.37; Frank FREDERICKS (NAM), 20.38; Michael MARSH (USA), Patrick STEVENS (BEL), 20.43.


Women's 200m Qualifying

200 Semifinals Will be Packed

Marie-Jose PEREC (FRA) showed she will be a force to contend with in the 200m. Already the 400m gold medalist, PEREC was the fastest qualifier in 200m quarterfinals. She'll be joined there by three U.S. sprinters, plus 400m silver medalist Cathy FREEMAN (AUS) and Merlene OTTEY (JAM).

Top Qualifiers: Marie-Jose PEREC (FRA), 22.24; Mary ONYALI (NGR), 22.37; Carlette GUIDRY (USA), 22.51; Dannette YOUNG (USA), 22.53; Inger MILLER (USA), 22.57; Merlene OTTEY (JAM), 22.61.


Men's 400m Hurdles Semifinals

DAVIS Running Like a Veteran

In his first season competing in the 400m hurdles, the United States' Calvin DAVIS (USA) looks like a veteran, as he turned in the fastest semifinal on Wednesday. Behind him in heat two, the next three runners all ran 48.28, including Rohan ROBINSON (AUS) out of lane one. Neil GARDNER (JAM) was fifth in that section in 48.30, missing the final by .02 seconds.

Top Qualifiers: Calvin DAVIS (USA), 47.91; Derrick ADKINS (USA), 47.76; Sven NYLANDER (SWE), 48.21; Everson TEIXEIRA (BRA), 48.28; Samuel MATETE (ZAM), 48.28; Rohan ROBINSON (AUS), 48.28; Fabrizio MORI (ITA), 48.43; Eronilde DE ARAUJO (BRA), 48.45.


Men's Steeplechase Semifinals

Steeplechasers Splash Through Semis

Since the steeplechasers have to splash through a water jump, they probably didn't mind a steady drizzle that fell through their semifinals. All of the fastest times came out of the second section, where Mark CROGHAN (USA) took it out hard. He faded to seventh in 8:21.01, and will advance to the final on time. Mark DAVIS (USA) finished well to win the first heat in 8:26.76.

Top Qualifiers: Joseph KETER (KEN), 8:19.90; Moses KIPTANUI (KEN), 8:18.91; Steffen BRAND (GER), 8:19.11; Jim SEVENOEY (NOR), 8:19.79; Brahim BOULANI (MAR), 8:20.43; Brahim BOULANI (MAR), 8:20.43.


Men's 5000m Qualifying

First Round Eliminates No Favorites, Big News: GEBRSELASSIE Scratches

The first round of the men's 5000m went as expected, with modest times favoring the faster runners. The big news came in the announcement just before the beginning of heat 1, that 10,000m gold medalist Haile GEBRSELASSIE (ETH) had scratched from the event. That leaves the field wide open. All of the fastest times came out of the second heat, with Fita BAYISSA (ETH) moving fastest at the end. Defending champion Dieter BAUMANN (GER) easily advanced out of that section.

Top Qualifiers: Fita BAYISSA (ETH), 13:50.61; Brahim LAHLAFI (MAR), 13:51.25; Tom NYARIKI (KEN), 13:51.47; Enrique MOLINA (ESP), 13:51.55; Aissa BELAOUT (ALG), 13:51.96; Dieter BAUMANN (GER), 13:52.00.


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Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Games involved a crew of 2,100 who worked with more than 3,500 performers as well as thousands of athletes who celebrated on the field of Olympic Stadium.