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
  

John Dane, Austin Sperry take lead in Star sailing race

Click HERE for Dane, Sperry photo gallery

John Dane III, a native of New Orleans and one of the oldest athletes on Team USA, has made a quiet, but determined reach for the gold. Dane and his son-in-law Austin Sperry took an unexpected overall lead in the venerable Star dinghy class with second- and fourth-place finishes Saturday at the China games.

"That's what's great about this regatta," said Sperry. "Nobody expects us to win a medal . . . but we're not here as tourists."

Dane qualified for the US sailing team after 40 years of unsuccessful attempts, first in 1968, at age 18, when he was No. 2 in a borrowed Dragon-class boat. He tried again in the Soling class in 1972, then in the Finn class in 1974, and the Star in 1984. It finally worked when he teamed up with the 30-year-old Sperry.

John Dane

• Born: July 15, 1950 New Orleans, LA
• Hometown: Gulfport, MS
• Residence: Gulfport, MS
• Ht: 6'3"
• Event(s): Star
• Position: Helm
• Web site: Dane-Sperry 2008

U.S. Volleyball eliminates Poland

Click HERE for interview with Napoleonville's Kim Willoughby

The USA women’s volleyball team beat Poland in five sets today, the final day of preliminary pool play. The USA had already clinched a spot in the quarter-finals, which starts Tuesday, before the 18-25, 25-21 19-25, 25-19, 15-13 victory. The women finish 4-1 in their pool, with the lone loss coming to undefeated Cuba. With the loss, Poland are eliminated.

Napoleonville native Kim Willoughby is the outside hitter for U.S. Volleyball and she scored two points in the win over Poland.

Kim Willoughby

• Born: November 7, 1980 Houma, LA
• Hometown: Napoleonville, LA
• Residence: Colorado Springs, CO
• Ht: / Wt: 5'11" / 165 lbs
• Event(s): Women's volleyball
• Position: Outside hitter
• Web site: USA Volleyball

Lee makes final, but Jamaica sweeps women's 100m

Team Jamaica took spots 1, 2, and 3 in the Women's 100M final Sunday.

Jamaica's big win turned into a giant disappointment for the United States. Lauryn Williams finished fourth, Baton Rouge resident and former LSU standout Muna Lee fifth and Torri Edwards last. Lee, the only one of that U.S. trio with another chance for an individual medal -- in the 200 -- said she thought there was a false start.

Edwards herself said she thought she had false-started. The American team filed a protest, though it was swiftly rejected.

Williams didn't sound like someone who felt she had been cheated. "We've dominated for years, and now it's their time," Williams said.