Rio Olympics track and field results: August 15

Usain Bolt won another gold and Wayde van Niekerk smashed a long-standing world record to highlight the track and field action at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 2016 Rio Olympics track and field competition got off to a terrific start in the first two days, but Sunday provided the most excitement yet with the finals of the men’s 100 and 400 meters.

Sunday’s evening session opened with the semifinals of the men’s 100 meters. All the top favorites including Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin advanced, setting up one of the most anticipated finals of the competition later that evening.

Gatlin got off to a much better start in the final, but Bolt ran him down in the last 30 meters of the race to become the first person to ever win three consecutive Olympic 100 meter titles in a time of 9.80 seconds. The American still became the oldest medalist in the 100 meter ever at 34, while Canada’s Andre De Grasse took bronze.

Grenada’s Kirani James, Team USA’s LaShawn Merritt and South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk were expected to make up the podium in the final of the men’s 400 meter. However, nobody could have foreseen van Niekerk not only winning the event from lane eight, but obliterating the world record with a time of 43.03 seconds. James, the defending gold medalist, held off Merritt for silver.

Caterine Ibargüen secured Colombia’s first ever track and field gold in the women’s triple jump with a massive 15.17 meter leap on her fourth attempt. Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas moved into second in her dramatic last attempt with a mark of 14.98 meters, with Kazakhstan’s Olga Rypakova in third.

The morning opened with the women’s marathon, where Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won Kenya’s first gold in the event in a time of 2:24.04. Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa of Bahrain finished nine seconds back in silver medal position, followed by world champion Mare Dibaba in third.

Team USA had a strong showing in the event with runners finishing in sixth, seventh and ninth. Shalane Flanagan led the way for the Americans with a time of 2:26.08.

Allyson Felix had no trouble in winning her women’s 400 meter semifinal to advance. Teammates Phyllis Francis and Natasha Hastings will join Felix in tomorrow’s final.

World record holder Genzebe Dibaba cruised to a win in the semifinals of the women’s 15,000 meter. Shannon Rowbury and Jennifer Simpson advanced for Team USA and both should have a shot at the podium in Tuesday’s final.

The night concluded with the qualification round of the men’s high jump. Erik Kynard Jr. will be the lone American in Tuesday’s final.

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