Olympic Track Aug. 6 Recap: Kirani James Drops Sub-44 400m In Semifinals

An American man won the 1,500m final for the second time since 2016, 2012 Olympic 400m champ Kirani James is in peak form and more from the track

For months, hype had been building around the 1,500m battle between Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, setting the stage for a vicious and jaw-dropping final that exceeded the world’s expectations.

The women’s 200m final was tasked with wrapping up the sixth day, while the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, hammer and men’s long jump kept fans entertained leading up to the night’s finale.

Cole Hocker spoiled their big clash on Tuesday, maneuvering throughout the last lap to give America the gold, it’s second since 2016.

While Ingebrigtsen took the pace out hot in hopes of dropping the field, everyone maintained a safe distance and were eventually able to reel the Norwegian back in … with 50 meters left.

As the bell rang, all three Americans were in the mix, as well as Ingebrigtsen and Kerr.

Down the homestretch, it was Hocker and Yared Nuguse who were brave enough to fully respond to the moves, both closing hard as Hocker surged past Kerr near the line. Nuguse flew past Ingebrigtsen for bronze.

Hocker’s new personal best of 3:27.65 is a new Olympic record, as well as the seventh-fastest time in world history.

Kerr established a personal best and British record, producing a time of 3:27.79. Yared Nuguse kicked his way past the defending champion in 3:27.8.

Ingebrigtsen finished fourth in 3:28.24 followed by American Hobbs Kessler, who took fifth in 3:29.45.

This was the first time since 1912 that two American men finished on the podium.

U.S. champion Quincy Hall was the first to qualify for the final, winning the first semi in 43.95, while Jereem Richards (TTO) was behind him in 44.33.

Grenada’s Kirani James ran the fastest time of the day, stopping the clock at 43.78. That performance was just ahead of Muzala Samukonga (ZAM).

The last heat saw Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith and world champion Michael Norman go 1-2, crossing in 44.07 and 44.26, respectively.

Christopher Bailey notched a personal best in the second semifinal, clocking a time of 44.31 to get through to the final on time.

Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi was the second qualifier who got in on time.

Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton put it in cruise control to win her heat comfortably in 53 seconds, while NCAA champion Jasmine Jones finished second in 53.83.

The second semifinal featured the greatest to ever do it: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

The American jogged a 52.13, which was the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. France’s Louise Maraval ran 53.83 to qualify for the final in front of her home crowd.

Defending 400mH world champion Femke Bol already has one gold medal to her name in Paris. She won her semifinal in 52.57, while America’s Anna Cockrell had a great last 100m to finish second.

Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon and Canada’s Savannah Sutherland earned the two time qualifiers, running 53.13 and 53.80, respectively.

In one of the most accomplished 3,000m steeplechase fields in Olympic history, the defending world champion took down the defending Olympic champion, as Winfred Yavi won her first gold.

Yavi outlasted Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai down the homestretch, lowering the Olympic record to 8:52.76, as Chemutai won silver in a new Ugandan national record of 8:53.34.

Faith Cherotich, who is just 20-years-old, won her first Olympic bronze and notched a new personal best as well.

Courtney Wayment was the top American in 9:13.60.

Even with Shericka Jackson absent due to injury, Gabby Thomas provided an exhilarating 200m final, winning her first Olympic gold just three years after winning bronze in Tokyo.

Thomas’ signature second-half propelled her past Alfred and fellow American Brittany Brown, as she crossed in 21.83, She became just the second American woman since 1992 to win gold.

Alfred gave St. Lucia its second Olympic medal on the track, finishing runner-up in 22.08, while Brown went 22.2 for her first Olympic medal.

The 27-year-old solidified herself as one of the best in the world, and she’ll be the woman to beat next year in Tokyo.

The 26-year-old from Greece has won three out of the last four international championships — his lone failure coming in 2022 when he finished second at the World Championships in Eugene.

Tentoglou also came into Paris as the best jumper this season, owning the world lead of 8.65m — nearly a quarter-of-a meter ahead of the next best.

The defending champion got it done on his second jump, soaring to an 8.48m and the gold medal position.

Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock and Italy’s Mattia Furlani won silver and bronze, jumping 8.36m and 8.34m, respectively.

The Olympics begin on July 26 and end on August 11. The track and field events will begin on Aug. 1.

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