RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – It was quite a day for USA Track and Field at the Rio Olympics.
Two-time world champion Tianna Bartoletta finally has an Olympic gold medal, winning the long jump final with a career-best 7.17 meters. U.S. teammate Brittney Reese took silver with a best of 7.15 after fouling three times on her first four attempts.
The United States swept the medals in the 100-meter hurdles, with Brianna Rollins winning in 12.48 seconds. Nia Ali had silver and Kristi Castlin claimed the bronze.
American Tori Bowie picked up bronze in the women’s 200 meters, which was won by Elaine Thompson of Jamaica. Thompson ended in a season’s best 21.78 seconds.
American Evan Jager has won a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing one second behind Kenyan Conselus Kipruto. The Illinois native gave the U.S. its first Olympic medal in the event since Brian Diemer earned bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Reigning Olympic and world champion Ashton Eaton of the U.S. is the leader through five events of the decathlon. Eaton has 4,621 points after winning the 400 meters, putting him 121 points ahead of Kai Kazmirek of Germany.
One of the few disappointments for U.S. track athletes on Wednesday was Justin Gatlin, who failed to qualify for the final of the 200 meters after placing third in his semifinal heat. Gatlin finished in 20.13 seconds, three days after he took silver in the 100.
Elsewhere during Day 13 of the Rio Games:
– Usain Bolt has advanced to the final for the 200 meters with the fastest time of the year. The Jamaican ran 19.78 seconds to stay in contention for his eighth Olympic gold medal.
– Kevin Durant finished with 27 points and the U.S. men’s basketball team reeled off a 27-2 run in the first half of a 105-78 pounding of Argentina to advance to the semifinals. DeMarcus Cousins added 15 points for the U.S., which will battle Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games.
– Also in men’s basketball, Tony Parker says he has played his final game for the French team, making the announcement following a 92-67 loss to Spain. The San Antonio Spurs point guard has played in France’s program for nearly half his life and said it’s difficult to say goodbye. The 34-year-old Parker never played on a French Olympic squad that finished higher than sixth.
– The United States finished second to France in equestrian. France finished the two-round competition on three faults, two fewer than the U.S. team of Kent Farrington, Lucy Davis, McLain Ward and Elizabeth Madden. France’s eventing team also won gold last week.
– The U.S. women’s basketball team has learned that captain Sue Bird has only a knee capsule sprain, leaving her day to day as the Americans get ready for their semifinal game Thursday night against France. Bird was hurt in Tuesday’s victory and had initially feared the injury would be much worse.
– The U.S. women’s water polo team has beaten Hungary 14-10 to advance to the gold medal game against Italy. Maggie Steffens scored four times for the Americans, who are trying to become the first country to repeat as Olympic champions. The United States has won 21 in a row, including its five games in Rio by a combined 61-27.
– In volleyball, the men’s indoor team has advanced to the semifinals after beating Poland in straight sets for a fourth straight victory since a surprising 0-2 Olympic start. The fifth-ranked Americans topped second-ranked Poland 25-23, 25-22 25-20.
– Reigning Olympic boxing champ Claressa Shields has reached the middleweight semifinals in Rio to guarantee herself at least a bronze medal. The Michigan product is unbeaten since the London Olympics, winning two world championships and a Pan-American Games title.
– Japan’s Kaori Icho has become the first wrestler in Olympic history to win four gold medals. Icho scored a takedown with less than five seconds left to beat Russia’s Valeriia Koblova Zholobova 3-2 in 58-kilogram women’s freestyle.
– Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn is the first-round leader in women’s golf after firing a 6-under 65. She is one shot ahead of South Korea’s Inbee Park and Kim Seiyoung.
– Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross have won the beach volleyball bronze medal with a 7-21, 21-17, 15-9 victory against Brazil. The win came less than 24 hours after Walsh Jennings lost on the Olympic beach for the first time in 27 matches over four Summer Games.
– The U.S. Olympic Committee says American swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were taken off their flight from Brazil by local authorities amid an investigation into a reported robbery involving Ryan Lochte and his teammates. Lochte said he was with Conger, Bentz and another teammate when they were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi as they returned to the athletes village. Police have found little evidence so far to support their accounts.
– Russia’s lone track and field competitor will leave Rio without a medal. Darya Klishina reached the long jump final but was eliminated after three attempts.
– The United States continues to lead all medal counts with 30 gold, 32 silver and 32 bronze for 94 total. China and Britain are tied for second with 19 gold medals. The Chinese have 54 total medals, four more than the Brits.
– Kenyan steeplechase great Ezekiel Kemboi has been disqualified in his last race, losing the bronze medal he won Wednesday before he announced his retirement. A jury decision says Kemboi stepped off the track after clearing a water jump during the 3,000-meter steeplechase final at the Olympic Stadium.
– A senior Olympic executive from Ireland was arrested and taken to the hospital Wednesday after police raided his beachfront hotel as part of an investigation into the illegal sale of tickets for the Olympics. Patrick Hickey was accused of plotting with at least nine others to sell tickets above face value in a scheme that authorities say netted about $3 million in profits.
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