Spoiler Central: Olympic Highlights with a Clear Florida Bias

Day 9 - Saturday - August 11

Women's 4x400 Finals

Men's 4x100 Finals

Day 6 - Wednesday - August 8
 

Men 200 Semis

FSU's Maurice Mitchell was not able to advance to the finals after winning his heat in the prelims yesterday. He ran a 20.56 for fourth place in heat three. He needed a 20.37 to grab the last slot. Mitchell said “It was not what I expected.  I felt good in the warm-up, but I felt flat in the race.  No excuses.  I’m happy and thankful for the opportunity to get here.”

Curandy Martina, who trails in Clermont, won heat three to qualify for tomorrow's finals. He had great reaction time and won in 20.17--the fourth fastest seed time.

Usain Bolt (20.18) won his heat as did Jamaican countryman Yohan Blake (20.01). Wallace Spearmon will be the only USA reprsentative in the finals. He finished second in heat one to Blake with a 20.02.

Women 1500 Semis

Defending world champ, Jenny Barringer-Simpson, failed to advance to the finals. She ran a 4:06.89--well off her personal best of 3:59.90. Americans Morgan Uceny and Shannon Rowbury will advance to the finals with time of 4:05.34 and 4:05.47, respectively.

After the disappointing race, Jenny had this to say:  “I’m disappointed only because I know I put in the work, and I know my coach knows I can do better than this. I have no excuse. I’m not hurt, I’m not out of shape. I did a really, really great workout two weeks ago, and it is shame on me for not finishing what I started here.”

Women 400 Hurdles Finals

T'erea Brown of the USA, and University of Miami alum, finished in sixth place with a 55.07. Brown said she was not satisfied with the race, but not disappointed either.

 ”It is extremely difficult running with people who run 52, so being in lane 2, I worked my hardest and stayed in there, but at the end of the day I just didn’t have it today. But I’m not disappointed, of course I’m not happy, but the fact that I’m here on my first team ever, first Olympics ever, first final, I’m not disappointed."

American teammate Lashinda Demus took the silver with a 52.77 season best. Georganne Moline (USA) continued to over-perform expectations... finishing with a fifth place season best 53.92.

Women 200 Finals

Maybe a little tired, Sanya Richards-Ross came off the curve trailing by a large margin, started to make up substantial ground the last 50 meters but a bit too late. She finished with a 22.39 for fifth place in the finals.

Sanya was pleased with her effort. “It was an amazing opportunity to compete in two events. The more I try it, the more I will get used to it. I really wanted to grab a medal tonight. It was a tough field. These ladies are quick. The double is very challenging. The tough part is no days off and a heavy fatigue factor. It is tough to prepare for.”

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, who trains at Clermont, was fourth in 22.38. And Murielle Ahoure of the University of Miami and Ivory Coast was sixth in 22.57.

American fan favorite Allyson Felix won the gold medal with a 21.88 domination. Teammate Carmelita Jeter was bronze with 22.14. 100 meter gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica was silver in 22.09.

Day 5 - Afternoon Session - Tuesday - August 7

Women's 100m Hurdles Finals

Women's 200m Semifinals

Day 5 -  Morning Session - Tuesday - August 7

Men's Triple Jump - Qualification

Men 200 Prelims

America's Maurice Mitchell had good showing in the opening round, taking heat three in 20.54 with a little pressure behind him. The Florida State alum advances to the semis tomorrow.

The other two Americans in the round, Wallace Spearmon (20.47) and Isiah Young (20.55), did not win their heat but move on none the less. As did Usain Bolt with a 20.39 win in heat one and Yohan Blake with a 20.38 in heat four.

Churandy Martina, who trains in Clermont, won heat seven for the Netherlands with a 20.58.
 

Day 4, Afternoon Session - Monday - August 6

Women 200 Prelims

Newly-minted gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross won her heat after being out until 2AM celebrating her big win the previous evening. She had to fight a little bit harder than she hoped around the curve and only could finally ease in the last forty meters or so, advancing to the semis with the fastest time in the round of 22.48.

Kirsten Nieuwendam, the 2010 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas (same school as Richards-Ross), was not so lucky. Representing Suriname, she failed to advance with a 24.07 for the Penn State athlete.

The two other Americans in the round both won their heats and advanced: Allyson Felix (22.71) and Carmelita Jeter (22.65).

Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and the University of Miami won her heat in 22.55 to move on.

Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of The Bahamas failed to move on again. The four-time Olympian didn't advance in the 100 prelims either. The 36-year-old, who lives in the Clermont area, ran a 23.49. Debbie's training partner in Clermont, Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, had better luck and moved on with a 22.75 that got her third place in heat five.

Women 400 Hurdles Semi-Finals

T'era Brown, representing the USA, survived into the finals as the seventh seed. The University of Miami alum ran a personal best 54.21--the second fastest American. All three Americans did go on to the finals; the other two are Lashinda Demus (54.08) and Georganne Moline (54.74).

Men 400 Hurdles Finals

Florida Gator Kerron Clement did not have his best race, fading late and finishing with an eighth place 49.15 in the finals. Of course, it's certainly a big deal to have made an Olympic finals, so hats off to him. He ran a 48.12 in the semi-final round, which would have gotten him fourth place in the finals... but those rounds can be grueling.

Men 400 Finals

Twin brothers Kevin and Jonathan Borlee finished appropriately just .02 from each other in the Olympic finals! The two, representing Belgium, are both alumni of Florida State. The went fifth and sixth, respectively, with times of 44.81 and 44.83.

Day 4, Morning Session - Monday - August 6

Women 1500 Prelims

Jenny Barringer-Simpson survived this round by the skin of her teeth! She ran in a slow, physical, tactical heat where everyone was bunched up. She found herself in a bad position and realized she needed to make a move a little bit too late. Luckily for her, she got enough space down the homestretch and used a strong finish kick. She leaned at the line for a .03 edge of seventh place for a sixth place 4:13.81 in heat two. She took the last qualifying slot and will be the slowest seed into the finals.

Afterwards she said: “If people want to see my miracle kick that was definitely a miracle today.  I ran the slowest race to make it in.  At this point, what’s done is done, I have to move on.  It was really physical up front.  With about 200 meters to go I realized I needed to do something so I put my head down and didn’t look up until 5 meters to the line.  I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve leaned at the line.” 

Hannah England, representing Great Britain, also advanced to the finals. The former Seminole finished in fifth place out of a fast heat one with 4:05.40.

Women 100 Hurdles Heats

Olympic Trials champ Kellie Wells looked really impressive. The first-time Olympian who trains in Clermont won heat three with a 12.69 to advance to the semis. She said she was overjoyed with her debut.

 “I’m so happy.  Round one is out of the way!  The first round went really good, we’ll go back at it tomorrow and do it again.  I feel great, life is good. The crowd is amazing.  It sounds like they’re cheering just for me and I love it.”

Crowd favorite (no Florida ties) Lolo Jones also won her heat, moving on with a 12.68 as the top American to the semis. Dawn Harper of the USA also advanced with a 12.75.

Anne Zagre, the 2012 signee of Florida State University, advanced to the semis as well. The 22-year-old from Belgium clocked a 13.04 for fourth in heat one.

Day 3, Afternoon Session - Sunday - August 5

Women 400 Finals

Sanya Richards-Ross made us so proud, finally winning individual Olympic gold with a 49.55. She was favored coming in and looked solid around the first turn, but had some company and trailed around the last turn with 100 meters to go. She used superior closing speed to break free of the field and then fought hard to keep ahead of a hard charging Christin Ohuruogu of Great Britain's 49.70.

Orlando area resident Dee Dee Trotter used her closing kick as well and moved on to the medal stand with a bronze 49.72--her first individual medal at world championship event.

Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica and the University of Florida took fifth with a 50.11.

Richards-Ross quote: “It is very, very challenging to come to the Olympic stage and give your best performance and balance emotionally and physically. To come out here and be successful is my ultimate dream come true. It is a huge weight off my shoulders, I kept telling myself, ‘you are the champ, you are the champ,’ but to go out there and to actually accomplish it was really tough. I got out really well the first 50, then I kind of backed off a little too much down the backstretch. I felt Krivoshopka come up and Montsho kind of get away from me on the curve. I kept telling myself, ‘be patient, be patient,’ I got to the 100 meters and there was about four of us across the track, which I’m not used to. I just kept saying, ‘you can do this, you can do this’ and I dug really deep and I crossed the finish line first. I’m very happy.”

Trotter said: “Getting out there and trying to really get after it, it came down to that home stretch and I was in a good position to take home the gold, but I just came up short. I got snipped at the line for the silver, but to get a bronze medal and an individual medal has been the highlight of my career, I couldn’t be prouder, all the glory to God for giving me the opportunity. ... I’m glad we brought the gold medal back home. Sanya Richards- Ross worked very hard. If anyone had to get it, I’m glad it was her. She has been working her butt off, and it is a lifetime dream for her. I’m very happy to see her have such a fantastic race and complete that dream.”

Men 100 Semi-Finals

Heat 1 - Justin Gatlin blazed an incredibly fast time in heat one with a 9.82. Churandy Martina, who represents the Netherlands but trains with Gatlin and Tyson Gay in Clermont, also qualified for the finals with a 9.91. The two beat out Jamaican legend Asafa Powell's 9.94; Powell advanced on time. Martina's time was a new national record for The Netherlands.

Heat 2- Usain Bolt, who needs no introduction, took the field to school with a 9.87. Ryan Bailey of the US, who had the fastest time in the first round, moved on with a 9.96. Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago became the final qualifer for the finals with a 10.02 for third in this heat, the only one over 10 and the only one of two not from the US or Jamaica.

Heat 3 - Yohan Blake of Jamaica had a slow start but had an amazing middle half of the race and eased up just before the finish to win the heat in 9.85. Tyson Gay looked really good, although Blake walked him down in the middle. Gay was kicking with him for a while and then backed down to save room for the finals, moved on in second place 9.90. All three heats with winners in the 9.8s is crazy.

Men 100 Finals

I mean what can you do? Usain Bolt is just a freak of nature. He ran away from the field with another Olympic Record. Everyone was running about as fast as they ever have and he is just ridiculous.

Justin Gatlin got out out strong and held his own, fighting off Tyson Gay who took it right to a photo finish at the line. Yohan Blake of Jamaica rode Bolt's wake and solidered just past Gatlin with a 9.75 to 9.79. The Pensacola native really can hold his head up high, battling back from a long absence to take the bronze. Gay was an eyelash behind in fourth place 9.80 and the Americans made it a nice pack of red, white, and blue with Ryan Bailey fifth in 9.88.

Churandy Martina, who trains in Clermont, got sixth place for The Netherlands with a 9.94.

Gatlin said after: “It just feels good to be back. A dream. I have been sitting in my room, in the Village. I am here, eight years later. My journey, coming back – it has been a lot. ... I just wanted to get on that podium and to be there for my country. All of the people in the stands with flags. They are there for us so I wanted to be there for them.”

Gay felt like he was all in: “It was tough, but I don’t have any excuses. I gave my all. My hip felt good. USA Track & Field staff, everybody came together to make me feel the best I can be. That was my season best for the year. I just came up short. I feel good, my body is healthy. I just feel like I let a lot of people down."

Women 400 Hurdles Heats

T'erea Brown of the University of Miami qualified for the semi-finals of the Women's 400 Hurdles with a personal best 54.72, placing second in heat one.

Day 2, Afternoon Session - Saturday - August 4

• 

  Will Claye of the University of Florida is an Olympic bronze medalist! He hit an 8.12 meters (26-8) for third place in the long jump finals. After his big finish in the medals, Claye added:  “It is awesome. Long jump is an event where people have counted me out, people don’t know me as a long jumper. To come here and medal has given me even more confidence in the triple jump, and God-willing I can get the gold medal in triple jump. This is surreal. The crowd is crazy for everyone. My family is here, and this feels like home to me. I couldn’t ask for a better competition.”
• Kelly Ann- Baptiste (3rd, Heat 2, 11.00), Tianna Madison (2nd Heat 3, 10.92), and Murielle Ahoure (3rd Heat 3, 11.01) all advanced from the semis to the finals. In the finals, the last track event of the night, Madison was the first Florida-based athlete to cross. She finished just out of the medals with a very fast 10.85 for fourth place. Baptiste and Ahoure were sixth and seventh in 10.94 and 11.00, respectively. This was one of the fasest womens 100 races ever. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica defended her Olympic title with a 10.75 win. American Carmelita Jeter was sandwitched between the two Jamaicans with Jeter getting the silver (10.78) and Veronica Campbell-Brown taking bronze in 10.81. Madison said afterwards, “I got in the blocks and thought this is the time for a perfect start. Anything less than first smarts a bit, but I looked at the board and saw 10.84 and I thought ‘we did it.’ When it was time to put up a time, I did it, and I am just so proud of myself and the team I have behind me, my husband John and my coach Rana. I feel like I won, I really do."
• Kerron Clement of the University of Florida advanced as the seventh seed into Monday's finals in the 400 Hurdles with a 48.12, which though it was third in his heat was actually faster than American Michael Tinsley, who won heat three. Clemente said there is a little he will change going into the finals: “I’m just going to wait, stay focused, zone in and run a little harder.”
• Sanya Richards-Ross won heat one of the semis with a 50.07 to move on to tomorrow's finals. Dee Dee Trotter took second in heat three with a quick 49.87--second fastest in the round as well--with Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica and the University of florida right behind her in 49.91. Sanya says:  “The race went really well. Coach wanted me to execute to 350, I felt like I did to 300 and I'm happy. I was very pleased with the execution. I'm so happy three Americans are in the final and I'm happy to be leading the charge.”  Dee Dee says: “I know you all want to know about  my glitter face. Today it is like an explosion on my face. A little more dramatic than yesterday. Tomorrow I will bring it bigger and better.”
  (On what she will do to prepare): “Rest. Pray. Recover. I will rely on the fantastic team USA Track & Field has put together."
• After Hyaleas Fountain's poor showing the morning round, she bowed out of the heptathlon competition and DNSed on the 800 meters.
• Though not from Florida, it also deserves to be noted that Galen Rupp became the third American of all-time and first since 1964 to medal in the Mens 10,000 Meters. He took silver in 27:30.90, just behind his teammate (competing for Great Britain) Mo Farrah. Both are coached in Oregon by Alberto Salazar.

Day 2, Morning Session - Saturday - August 4

• Genevieve Lacaze, the crowd favorite from the University of Florida, ran a new personal best of 9:37.90 in the 3000 Steeplechase; however, that was not quite enough to qualify for the finals. She would have had to go a little more than seven seconds better to make that cut. Still a good run for the Aussie's Olympic debut.
• Barbara Parker of FSU, representing Great Britan, came within two spots of advancing to the 3K Steeple finals herself. But her 9:32.07 just didn't quite get there.
• Florida-based athletes Tyson Gay (10.08) and Justin Gatlin (9.97) both won their heats in the first round of the Mens' 100. Ryan Bailey of the US had the top overall time and one of the fastest ever in the Olympics with a 9.88. the three Jamaicans also won their heats: Usain Bolt (10.09), Asafa Powell (10.04), Yohan Blake (10.00). Tyson said he had no injury issues, “I felt pretty good. I didn’t feel any pain. I did what I wanted to do. I gave it about 75 percent I think, at 60-70 meters I let up a little.” For Pensacola Woodham alum Justin Gatlin it was all about execution and technique: “Coach wanted me to go out there and work the first 30 meters, that’s what I did, dominated the race, and just brought it home. It’s all just technique the second half of the race. I think I had kind of a slow start, but I just want to go there and build the race each round.”
• Kemar Hyman (Cayman Islands, FSU) advanced on time with a 10.16 and Keston Bledman (Trinidad & Tobago, trains in Clermont) did as well with a 10.13 in the Men 100.
• Lacy Janson, the alum of Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, cleared 4.4 meters, but ws unable to to advance to the final round.
• Defending world champion Lashawn Merrit, who trains in Bradenton, will not have a chance to defend his title. He dropped out of the first round of the 400 after about 200 meters into the race. He said: “Obviously this is the Olympic games, so you’re going to do all of the things to get healthy. It is feeling a lot better, a whole lot better. I feel like the strength is there. But when I really went for it, I could feel it. I thought I could get through the rounds not 100 percent, but I got out and I ran the curve and I started to feel it and I started to move a little bit more and i just still felt it, and I need more rest. It is very disappointing to want to have an undefeated season, and to come here and to be dealing with an issue and not be able to finish the race. But I’ll regroup. It’s not the end of the world, and the Olympics will come around again. Next year is the World Championship, and we have a track season every year. So now it is a matter of getting healthy and getting back to what I love to do.”
• Tony McQuay, meanwhile, took second in his heat behind Chris "Fireman" Brow of The Bahamas. The Florida Gator will move on to the semis with his 45.48 qualifying time. He said afterwards: "I could've executed a little bit better but I got the job done. I did my job and made it to the next round."
• Jonathan Borlee of FSU, representing Belgium, took care of business in his heat three. He set a national record in winning it with a 44.43 for the fasest time overall in the round. His brother Kevin Borlee, also of FSU, won his heat as well with a 45.14 out of heat seven.
• Tabarie Henry, representing the US Virgin Islands, made the cut to the semis on time. The Hallandale High alum took fourth in his heat with a 45.43.
• Hyaleas Fountain dropped out of medal contention in the morning session. She entered day two in fifth place, but well within striking distance of the silver. However, after a so-so long jump (865 points) and only getting one very subpar legal javelin throw (319 points) she dropped all the way back to 27th place.

Day 1, Afternoon Session - Friday - August 3

Womens' 100 Meters

• Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Trinidad and Tobago) qualified for the semis as the top seed from her heat one. She ran a stellar 10.96 to win the heat by .11. She lives and trains in Clermont.
• Murielle Ahoure, the former Miami Hurricane that represents Ivory Coast, was tops out of heat seven with a 10.99 to move on to the semis. The time is a new national record for the Ivory Coast.
• Tianna Madison (USA) advanced to the semis after finishing second in her heat with a 10.97. Madison trains in Daytona Beach.
• Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (British Virgin Islands) hit a season best 11.59, but it was not enough to advance to the semis. She finished seventh in her heat one. Harrigan-Scott lives and trains in Miami, where she is coached by Belen Jesuit sprint coach and husband Joey Scott.
• Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, the three-time Olympic medalist from the Bahamas, failed to advance to the semis after running a fifth place 11.32 in heat six. The time was offer her season best and it is a bit of a downer for her last individual event in a long Olympic career that started back in the Atlanta Games in 1996 and has seen her in every Games since. She will still compete in the 4x100 relay where The Bahamas hopes to earn another medal, as they did in 1996 and 2000. She won bronze individuall in the 200 meters in Athletics Games 2004.

Mens' 1500 Meters

• Sammy Vazquez, the Flagler Palm Coast and Embry Riddle alumni, did not advance out of heat three after a 3:49.19 performance in his Olympic debut representing Puerto Rico.
• Nor did Ciaran O'Lionaird (FSU, representing Ireland) advance, finishing just a spot ahead of Vazquez in heat thee with a 3:48.35.

Womens' Heptathlon

• Hyaleas Fountain had a disasterous outing in the shot put. She was only able to put up a 11.99 meter throw, earning her just 660 points. That knocked her from second place all the way down to eight, trailing the leader by 242 points. Following that, she got some redemption. Fountain ran a 23.64 (1016 points) to win the fourth heat of the 200 meters and claw her way back up into fifth place (3900 points) headed into day two. Great Britain's Jessica Ennis extended her lead with a stellar 22.83 (1096) in the last heat. While Ennis will be hard to catch unless she falters, Fountain could potentially climb her way back up on to the medal stand tomorrow. The American trails Ennis by 258 points, but sits only 74 points out of silver and a mere three points from bronze. The big challenge to those hopes will be tomorrow's javelin; the throws are her weakest events. Afterwards she said: “It (the atmosphere) is amazing.  Everyone is cheering for you, the athletes are just taking it all in.  The track feels really fast, probably faster than Beijing. Of course I would love to win gold, but I would settle to be on the stand.”

Mens' Long Jump

• Will Claye of the University of Florida finished eight overall in the qualification round with a long jump of 7.97 meters. The top 12 advance to Saturday's finals. Clay had this to say about today's effort: “It was a little rough, but thank God I made it through, so I live to fight another day. I’m gonna come back tomorrow like today never happened and see what I can do to win that gold medal.”

Day 1, Morning Session - Friday - August 3

Womens' 400 Meters

• Sanya Richards-Ross, the gold medale favorite and 2000 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas, had an easy time in her heat fourth. She cruised in for the 51.78 win to advance to the next round. She said this: “It felt good.  My coach and I wanted to come out in the first 200, control the turn and come in as easy as possible to conserve energy.  I did that and I feel good.... I’m 100 percent healthy, my fitness is phenomenal.... This track is definitely fast.  I wasn’t giving 100 percent and I could feel my turnover.  There are going to be some phenomenal performances here.” In regards to the crowd she added, “We expected the crowd.  The British love athletics and I expected a big crowd today.  It was exciting, I heard them cheering for me when I came out."
• Altamonte Springs (Orlando) resident, Dee Dee Trotter, had a similar result. She won her hear three with a 50.87 to move on. Dee Dee thought she had a phonomomal first round “That race couldn’t have been better.  We prepared for this (weather) in Eugene.  Our Olympic Trials prepared us for any kind of weather.  Bring it on!  Rain, wind, throw a tornado in there, USA is ready to run. ... I’m really excited about my race today.  I’m ready to get out here and do it again tomorrow.  I had a great day, I’m ready to shine." On the crowd — “I’ve never seen anything like this.  Everybody came out this morning.  I’ve been to three Olympics and I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
• Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica), who went to the University of Florida, was the top finisher in heat six, winning in 20.88.
• Afia Charles of UCF, representing Antigua and Barbuda, failed to advance after finishing in fourth place in her heat with a time of 54.25. Story on UCF Athletics... 

Womens' Heptathlon

• Hyaleas Fountain, who lives in Port Orange and trains in Daytona Beach, is currently in second place in the Hep after two events. She has 2224 points after running a 12.70 in the 100 Hurdles and a 1.86m/6-1.25 in the high jump. Jessica Ennis of Great Britain is currently in first palce with 2249 points.

Mens' 400 Hurdles

• Former Florida Gator, Kerron Clement, breezed through the qualifying round of the 400-meter hurdles. He finished second in heat four with a season-best 48.48. He said after the race: “It was good. It is a very fast track. I just came out here focused on myself, focused on my steps. I’ve had a rather interesting season; I’ve had a few races under my belt, so I’m just happy to make my second Olympic team and just running really well at the Olympics.”

Womens' Triple Jump

• Jamaica's Kimberly Williams, a senior at Florida State, is the top seed going out of the first round. She jumped 14.53 meters out of Group A, which is a new personal best for her.

Mens' Shot Put

• FSU's Dorian Scott (Jamaica) qualified for the finals tonight with a 20.31 meter throw. He was sixth place in Group A. He is seeded 11th of 12 in tonight's finals.
• UF's Kermal Mesic (Bosnia) failed to advance from the first round of the shot put. Mesic was 12th place in Group A with 19.60 meters.

More Olympic Coverage

• A Floridian's Olympic Viewing Survival Guide
• List of Florida Olympians by Country
• Florida's Road to London Series of Feature Articles with Athletes and Coaches
• IAAF Complete Results & Coverage
• NBC Olympics - Live Video Stream and Coverage
• USATF Team USA Olympic Coverage
• FloTrack Olympic Games Coverage