Team USA has strong morning of competition
Women's Javelin Qualifying
The US women threw well. Avionne Allgood (Legacy, North Las Vegas, NV) was close to her PR of 163-1, throwing 157-6 but not qualifying. Allison Updike (Tamaqua, PA), well back in her group after two throws, got her qualifier on her final throw, tossing the spear 160-6 making her the 9th best qualifier. These were very solid performances in an event in which the Americans rarely have a qualifier.Mens 100m Round 1 (first 2 in each heat and the next 8 fastest advance to the Semi-Finals)
Section 5- Charles Silmon (TCU) ran the fastest legal qualifier of the day, running 10.33 (+1.0). His best is 10.24. He looks to be a contender, though Dexter Lee (Jamaica) winning section 2 in a very easy 10.38.
Section 6 — No problem for Michael Granger (Mississippi). He had equal the fastest start (.177) and won easily in 10.47. Both Granger and Selmon appear to be medal hopes for the U.S.
Section 8 — Though he ran only 10.53, Jimmy Vicaut (France) will be in the hunt for the gold medal. He was left in the blocks, with a meager .320 reaction time. But he seem to change gears at will and won easily.
Women's Shot Put Qualifying
Brittany Smith (Illinois State), the US Junior leader at 52-2.25, got an automatic qualifier on her first throw with her second best throw ever, 51-11.25. She was the fourth best qualifier overall, with Geisa Arcanjo of Brazil the leader at 54-6.75. In fact, Brittany was only 1.25" behind 3rd place. All of the qualifying marks from the qualifying round are "thrown out" going into the finals, but the point is that Brittany has a shot at a medal. Rachel Roberts (SUNY Albany) had only one legal throw (43-7) and did not qualify.
Mens 1500m Qualifying (3 sections: first 3 and those 3 with the next fastest times advance to the final)
Section 1 — This was a fast opener, with a good shot at the 3 time qualifiers will come from this race. Mohamad Al-Garni of Qatar was he winner in 3:41.99.
Section 2 — A much slower pace than the first, with American Elias Gedyon (Loyola, Los Angeles, CA) struggling to maintain contact. He finished well back (12th) at 3:52.44
Section 3 — Peter Callaghan (Princeton) seemed to be out of it much of the race, but started to move well with 300 meters to go. He found a second, then a third, gear with 200 meters to go (but so did the half dozen or so ahead of him). He ran well down the homestretch for sixth, running a personal best of 3:45.04. He appeared to have something left at the end, and there was an outside possibility that he could have been a time qualifier had he made his move a bit earlier. The winner was Caleb Ndiku of Kenya in 3:42.32. The final time qualifier ran 3:44.45 so Callaghan was just outside that.
Womens 400m Qualifying Round 1 (First 4 in each heat and the next 4 fastest advance to the Semi-Finals)
Heat 1 — Regina George (Arkansas) went out fast and seemed to fade a bit with 50 meters to go. She couldn't hold of Maria Lebedeva of Russia, with Lebedeva running 54.02 to George's 54.17. (Those of you who don't remember Regina George from high school last year have good reason not to. She was not under 55 seconds. She competed for St. Gregory's of Chicago, IL. She improved to 52.60 this year while running for Arkansas).
Heat 2 — Stacy Ann Smith (Texas) led over the first 200 meters, then was overtaken by Bukola Abogunloko of Nigeria. Abogunloko held on at the end with Smith gaining, running 52.38 over Smith's 53.41.
