Track & Field > Day by Day Recap

The men's marathon was the last and only thing on the track program for Day 16, the close of the Olympics. Samuel Wanjiru pulled away over the final few kilometers to become the first Kenyan in the storied running history of that nation to win an Olympic marathon.

On the final night of track and field, after a week of more lows than highs, the U.S. closed with success in the final two events of the evening: the 4x400m relays. Sanya Richards showed she has a strong final 100 in catching the Russians. Jeremy Wariner didn't need to show anything; the men won by almost 3 seconds.

Bryan Clay entered the final discipline of the men's decathlon with a great lead and a chance at a few records. But the tired, dead-legged American jogged the 1500m, finished last in his heat and still easily won the gold medal. "Put me on the Wheaties box," he said as he joined group who can boast to be the Greatest Athlete in the World.

It was Tyson Gay's return. After being ousted in the 100m, he anchored the men's 4x100m relay team as a test of his injury status. He never got to show his speed, though, as the baton failed similarly on an exchange between Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams. Neither team advanced past Round 1.

Competing in what he calls his specialty event, Jamaica's Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 200m and broke Michael Johnson's record in the process. Unlike his 100m victory when he celebrated with 20m to go, Bolt needed to run this one out. He kept his body straight and pumped through the finish, establish the new world mark at 19.30 seconds.

Heartbreak struck Lolo Jones on the penultimate hurdle of her 100m final. With a great lead and victory all but certain, she caught her front foot, lost momentum and struggled to a seventh-place finish. Gracious in defeat, Jones interrupted her post-race interview to hug one of the passing medalists.

The highlight of the Games for China was supposed to be the 110m hurdles of Liu Xiang, who won gold in Athens four years earlier. But on the morning of Liu's first heat, he favored his Achilles, grimaced in warm-ups and walked off the track before the race was run.

The Jamaican sprint dominance started to emerge on the middle Sunday of the Games as 21-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women's 100m. It came one night after teammate Usain Bolt did the same in the men's race. Fraser was followed home by Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who shut the Americans out of the medals with a sweep.

On the second night of track and field, the world was introduced to Jamaica's Usain Bolt. After cruising through three rounds of heats, Bolt set a world record in winning his gold medal in the men's 100m. His celebration began with 20 meters to run as he raised his arms and beat his chest crossing the finish. American favorite Tyson Gay was eliminated in his semifinal.

The American shot put trio of Reese Hoffa, Adam Nelson and Christian Cantwell had a chance to sweep the medals but came away with just Cantwell's silver. In the last race of the night, Shalane Flanagan of the U.S. earned a bronze in the women's 10,000m. It surprised the field, and it surprised her; she said she didn't know what place she was in until after the finish.