Recapping a wild day of track and field at the 2016 Rio Olympics, including the final of the women’s 100 meters.
Rio 2016’s track competition heated up in a major way on Saturday, with dramatic finishes in all five medal events.
The women’s 100 meter final was set up to be one of the most exciting events of the Olympics after the top six finishers were separated by just .02 seconds in the semifinals earlier Saturday evening. Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson ensured the final would not be so close, blowing away the field with a time of 10.71 seconds. Team USA’s Tori Bowie rallied late to take silver, while two-time defending gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica won the bronze.
Great Britain’s Mo Farah and American Galen Rupp, the defending gold and silver medalists in the men’s 10,000 meters respectively, collided nearly halfway through the 2016 final and dropped to the back of the field. Farah raced passed Paul Kipngetich Tanui of Kenya in the final 100 meters to become the fourth man to ever defend a 10,000 title, with Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola taking bronze.
The women’s heptathlon concluded with the last three events of the competition. Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam came from behind with strong efforts in the long jump and javelin and barely held off defending champion Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain by 149 points in the 800 meters for gold. Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton
A throwing event final brought yet another thrilling finish to open the morning, as Germany’s Christoph Harting upset Piotr Małachowski of Poland to win gold. Harting’s final throw of 68.37 meters passed Małachowski’s leading mark of 67.55. Fellow German Daniel Jasinski also moved into medal position with his final toss to take bronze.
That wasn’t the only dramatic field event finish of the second session, as the men’s long jump final came right down to the wire. American Jeff Henderson moved from third to first with a huge final jump of 8.38 meters, just one centimeter clear of South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga. Defending gold medalist Greg Rutherford of Great Britain challenged both with a final jump of 8.29 meters to take third.
Jarrion Lawson of Team USA thought he had a final jump worth of a gold medal, but his left hand barely scraped the sand before he landed, and the American had to settle for fourth.
All eyes were on Jamaica superstar Usain Bolt in the morning session, as the current world record holder won his men’s 100 meter preliminary heat. American Justin Gatlin had the fastest time of the first round ahead of tomorrow’s semifinals and finals.
In other men’s qualification action, Grenada’s Kirani James and Team USA’s LeShawn Merritt both advanced in their 400 meter semifinal. Both will be challenged by world champion Wayde van Niekerk in tomorrow’s final, as the South African looked comfortable in his semifinal.
The women’s competition on Saturday began with qualifications in the triple jump. Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen will look to win her country’s first athletics medal after winning the qualification stage.
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Top favorites rolled in the first round of the women’s 400 meter, including Team USA’s Allyson Felix and Phyllis Francis. American Emma Coburn advanced in the preliminaries of the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase with the third fastest time.
Defending gold medalist David Rudisha had little trouble winning his 800 meter semifinal and looks to be in prime position to defend his title. Americans Clayton Murphy and Boris Berian did well to advance to the final.
The evening closed with the men’s pole jump qualification. American Sam Kendricks advanced with the automatic qualifying score of 5.70 meters.