Team USA had its biggest track & field night thus far at 2012 Olympic Games, bringing home three silver medals and one bronze -- including some from unexpected sources -- at Olympic Stadium.

Dawn Harper (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Kellie Wells (Orlando, Fla.) went 2-3 in the 100m hurdles, Erik Kynard (Manhattan, Kan.) was second in the men’s high jump, and Leo Manzano (Austin, Texas) grabbed a dramatic silver in the men’s 1,500.

Double medals in hurdles

One of the sport’s most highly anticipated finals, the 100m hurdles played out in spectacular fashion, pitting the defending gold medalist, Harper, against the heavily favored world champion, Sally Pearson of Australia. At the gun, Wells got out well, matching Pearson of Australia. Harper and Lolo Jones (Baton Rouge, La.) followed.

Harper soon found her form and looked strong as Pearson edged into the lead. Harper was closing on the Aussie over the final hurdle, but Pearson made it to the finish line first in an Olympic-record time of 12.35. Harper ran nearly two-tenths of a second faster than her 2008 Olympic gold medal performance to win silver in a personal best of 12.37. Harper’s time is the best mark ever for any second place finisher in the 100m hurdles and ties her with Joanna Hayes as the second-fastest American in history, behind Gail Devers. Keeping her composure and finishing strong, Kellie Wells (Orlando, Fla.) rounded out the podium in a personal-best time of 12.48m. Jones ran a season best as she took fourth in 12.58.

Earlier in the evening, Harper had set a personal best in handily winning her heat in 12.46. Jones was the fastest qualifier on time, placing third in heat 2 in 12.71, and Wells won heat 3 in a then-season best of 12.51.

Another historic medal

Thanks to a brilliant stretch run in the men’s 1,500m, American men have won two medals at 1,500m or over for the first time at an Olympic Games since 1968 - coincidentally, the last time the U.S. won this event at the Games.

Manzano took home the first U.S. medal in the 1,500 since Jim Ryun in that year. Tuesday night’s race came down to a furious sprint for the finish line, and Leo Manzano (Austin, Texas) was able to capitalize on his renowned closing speed to sixth to second in the last 150m of the race. Manzano crossed the line in a season-best time of 3:34.79, the fastest time ever by an American at the Games, finishing behind gold medalist Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria (3:34.08).

2011 World Outdoor bronze medalist Matthew Centrowitz (Eugene, Ore.) also had a strong stretch run. After running at the front for most of the race, Centrowitz had fallen back heading into the final stretch. He closed hard and finished  fourth in 3:35.17, only two-hundredths of a second behind Abdalaati Igulder of Morocco, on whom he was closing. Centrowitz’s fourth place finish gives the U.S. the best 1500m result since 1936 when Glenn Cunningham and Archie San Romani finished 2-4.

Kynard surprises

Sporting American flag knee socks, 21-year old Kynard (Manhattan, Kan.) entered the high jump final tied with the seventh-best personal best in the field. His skill, with perhaps a motivational assist from the socks, propelled him to an unexpected silver medal with a best clearance of 2.33m/7-7.75, behind gold medalist Ivan Ukov of Russia (2.38m/7-7.75). Kynard had only one miss in the competition while clearing four heights.

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, Derek Drouin of Canada and Robert Grabarz of Great Britain ended in a three-way tie for third at 2.29m/7-6. Jamie Nieto (Chula Vista, Calif.) placed sixth, also with a clearance of 2.29m/7-6, and 2011 World Champion Jesse Williams (Eugene, Ore.) tied for ninth at 2.25m/7-4.25.

Finals Countdown

It was smooth sailing for American 200 meter runners in the women’s semifinals. Two-time silver medalist Allyson Felix (Santa Clarita, Calif.) looked effortless in easily winning heat 2 in 22.31, 400m gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross won heat 3 in 22.30, and 100m silver medalist Carmelita Jeter (Gardena, Calif.) was second in heat 1 in 22.39, behind defending gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown (22.32). The final will be contested Wednesday evening.

For the first time since 1992, the U.S. will have two men running the final of the 800m. Nick Symmonds (Springfield, Ore.) and Duane Solomon (Los Angeles, Calif.) squeaked through to the final as the duo took both the qualifying spots on time. The U.S. has not had anyone in the final of this event since Solomon’s coach, Johnny Gray, ran in the final in 1996. Symmonds took third in heat 2 in 1:44.87 and Solomon took third in heat 3 in 1:44.93.

In women’s long jump qualifying, Janay DeLoach (Fort Collins, Colo.) made it to the final on her first jump with a mark of 6.81m/22-4.25. World champion Brittney Reese (Gulfport, Miss.) let it come down to the last jump after fouling on her first two attempts. Reese jumped 6.57m/21-6.75 to earn her way into the final. Chelsea Hayes (Ruston, La.) had a best mark of 6.37m/20-10.75 and did not advance.

 

Team USA Medal Count - 13 total

Gold (2)

Jenn Suhr (Churchville, N.Y.), WPV, 4.75/15-7

Sanya Richards-Ross (Austin, Texas), w400, 49.55

Silver (6)

Leo Manzano (Austin Texas), M1500, 3:34.79

Dawn Harper (Los Angeles, Calif.), W100H, 12.37

Erik Kynard (Manhattan, Kans.) MHJ, 2.33m/7-7.75

Michael Tinsley (Round Rock, Texas), M400H, 47.91

Carmelita Jeter (Gardena, Calif.), W100, 10.78

Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.), M10,000m, 27:30.90

Bronze (5)

Kellie Wells (Orlando, Fla.), W100H, 12.48

Justin Gatlin (Orlando, Fla.) M100, 9.79

DeeDee Trotter (Orlando, Fla.), W400, 49.72

Will Claye (San Diego, Calif.), MLJ, 8.12m/26-7.75

Reese Hoffa (Athens, Ga.), MSP, 21.23m/69-8

 

Athlete Quotes

Dawn Harper, 100m Hurdles:

“Oh, definitely a smile. I came back with some hardware and a personal best of 12.3, you can not be mad at that. To come here and know I had this kind of pressure on me, ‘can she do it, did she deserve it in ‘08?’ I think that I pretty much showed out today on a big stage.”

Kellie Wells, 100m Hurdles:

“It’s amazing. To know I came and got a bronze medal and a PR and to have just achieved so much. And to think where I have came from, I was a 13.1 hurdler when I came to my coach and he’s transformed me, and I’m so, so thankful for him. I carry my mother with me every day, and to know that she got to watch down on me and see me get a bronze medal and PR and to do something that she had so much passion for makes me feel so good in my heart.”

Lolo Jones, 100m Hurdles:

“I’m just kind of in shock right now. I didn’t keep it together. At least this time it was a clean race. It was my season best but obviously I am crushed. I struggled with maintenance (of my body) all year. I am not going to blame it on injuries but I obviously wasn’t as healthy.”

Leo Manzano, 1500m:

“I’m really excited, so thrilled and so pumped. It was an insane race. It was probably the toughest race physically and mentally that I’ve ever been in.”

Matthew Centrowitz, 1500m:

“Coming in here, I wanted to make moves that put me in medal position. I did all I could. I was so close to that medal.”

Erik Kynard, High Jump:

“I’m here. I medaled so that is all I could do. Pressure doesn’t burst my pipes. I have faith in my abilities. No stage is too big. This is the best second place I have ever had.”

Jamie Nieto, High Jump:

“It could be anybody’s day. A lot of guys had pressure on them. The conditions weren’t bad. I gave it my best. I was the old guy of the field so finishing sixth wasn’t bad.” (on Erik Kynard): “He is amazing he is the future and the present. We all have the same coach, who is a great coach. Erik is a great testament to that.”

Jesse Williams, High Jump:

“First of all I want to say congratulations to Erik Kynard. He deserves this. I under-achieved big time. I’m in unbelievable shape right now. It hurts. I know I’m much better than what I did today. I had some decent attempts. I wasn’t using the power that I had. It’s disappointing.”

Brittney Reese, Long Jump:

“I was on the board but had a lot of small fouls. All were over the qualifying mark, I just couldn't put it together. I had two toenail fouls over the qualifying mark. Tomorrow I have to get it done. This is the Olympics you have to bring it.”

Janay Deloach, Long Jump:

“That was the plan, to do one and done so I can stay as fresh as I can so I can go for the gold tomorrow...I’m looking forward to a lot of good jumps tomorrow, we already got three auto qualifiers at 6.80 so those are just on one jump, it’s going to be pretty good tomorrow..”

Chelsea Hayes, Long Jump:

“I guess I just let me nerves get to me. Competing here is a lot different than competing in the U.S.”

Nick Symmonds, 800m: “I’ll take it. I made a final. It was a scary way to do it but I did it. I feel fantastic right now. I have 48 hours to recover. I have proven that I get better as I go through rounds. I’m ecstatic. I feel really, really good.”

Duane Solomon, 800m:

“I feel great. It’s great to have two Americans (advancing to finals). A lot of people counted me out from even making the team and I made finals. I didn’t get out as aggressive as I usually do. Finals are going to be great. I believe I am a finals runner when it comes down to it. I‘m going to make something happen.”

Carmelita Jeter, 200m:

“I’m just getting ready for the next round. I feel good.”

Allyson Felix, 200m:

“I felt good. I have been waiting for this. I don’t put too much weight on it (semi-finals). I just want to execute and that’s what it is all about.”

Sanya Richards-Ross, 200m:

“My coach told me to be patient. I'm happy I got the win. I feel good. I have been mentally been preparing for this since I made the team.”

 

Originally published by USA Track & Field (http://www.teamusa.org)

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