Redeem Team comes up gold

After cruising for two weeks at the Olympics, the U.S. was challenged for 40 minutes.
And it was worth every last one.

The U.S.’ riveting 118-107 victory against Spain in Sunday’s gold medal game showed how good the Americans could be under pressure, and it capped a three-year mission to put the U.S. back atop the basketball world.

“This team has come a long way, and we had a lot of blowouts those first few games,” point guard Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets said. “So it was fitting that this one would be a close one. It really tested us to see what we were all about, and in the end, we showed we’re the best in the world.”

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Bring it: U.S., Jamacians in near exclusive fight for 200m gold

Former LSU track star Muna Lee ran her personal best in the 200m to qualify for the medal round in Beijing tomorrow. She finished second in her heat with a career-topping time of 12.29.

Americans Allyson Felix, Lee and Marshevet Hooker all advanced, as did the Jamaican trio of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. The Americans are hoping to avoid a replay of the 100m final, where Jamaica swept the medals.

Campbell-Brown, the defending Olympic champion, won her semifinal in 22.19. Felix, who was second to Campbell-Brown in Athens, ran a relaxed 22.33 to win the second semifinal.
Afterward, Felix said a sub-22 would be needed to win gold Thursday.

Lolo's final an unexpected heart-breaker

Lori "Lolo" Jones won the hearts of fans with her come-from-behind spirit. She inspired and wowed her fans on her way to assured Olympic gold. Instead, like life, the hurdles dealt a cruel deuce to Jones on her race to stardom.

Jones finished seventh in the Olympic 100 meter hurdles after clipping her foot on the second to last hurdle. In her home of Iowa and her adopted home of Louisiana, we are disappointed, but also search for a way to continue cheering on the young, beautiful spirit that inspired us on and off the track.

That blasted hurdle might represent the countless obstacles thrown in her path that eventually failed to stop her from achieving her goals. The world will see Lolo rise once more.

Related articles:

• Lolo falters; Harper takes 100m hurdles - NBC Olympics
• Jones Misses Medal, Gains Devoted Fans - News Radio 1040

Jones breezes into medal final

Former LSU track star Lolo Jones ran the fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the world this year, winning her semi-final in 12.43 seconds, to set up another US-Jamaican athletics showdown in Tuesday's Olympic final.

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One night after Jamaican women swept the 100m medals with three Americans behind them, Jones and compatriot Damu Cherry won their heats, Cherry taking her semi-final in 12.62, and Dawn Harper advanced just .04 behind.

"We're going to go for an American sweep, 1-2-3, and see what happens," said Cherry, who is fighting the flu. "I'm going to execute my race and see what happens."

Jones would not predict a US sweep. "I never say cleansweeps because anything can happen when you have 10 obstacles in front of you," Jones said. "I'm not going to worry about other lanes, but I hope we have a great day for the USA tomorrow."

Jones, who won the world indoor 60m hurdles crown earlier this year, beat the prior 2008 best and personal best of 12.45 she set to win at the US Olympic trials in July.

"I don't remember the start too much," Jones said. "I just got in the rhythm and everything clicked. I am happy with the time, but as soon as I leave the stadium I'm forgetting the result and focusing on tomorrow.

More on Lolo Jones:

• No more horseplay - Boston Globe
• Jones Advances to Final of Olympics 100 Hurdles - LSUSport.net
• Track's Jones goes from homeless to hero - USA Today
• Run, Lolo, Run - Jones' Web site