Post by Taxigirl on Aug 28, 2004 9:23:42 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/3581726.stm
China won two athletics gold medals at an Olympics for the first time in their history on Friday.
First, Xiang Liu set the evening alight with victory in the 110m hurdles, equalling the world record set by Colin Jackson in 1993.
Xiang became the first man to take track gold for China before Xing Huina won a dramatic women's 10,000m.
Britain's Paula Radcliffe dropped out with eight laps to go, leaving Xing to celebrate a surprise victory.
Xiang and Xing will defend their titles in four years time in front of a home crowd in Beijing.
But there was disappointment for Marion Jones, who will leave these Games without a medal.
Jones finished fifth in the long jump and later was involved in the handover which ended the United States' hopes of victory in the 4x100m relay.
Jones, who won five medals including three golds in 2000, ran the second leg but watched helplessly as third-leg runner Lauryn Williams set off too quickly, leaving herself with no chance of taking the baton.
Jones' moment of despair came shortly after the crowd watched Radcliffe's hopes of salvaging something from these Games end in more agony.
The Briton, who failed to finish the marathon, was well-placed after seven laps of the 10,000m but with 12 laps to go, she was left by the leaders and with her medal hopes over, Radcliffe opted to end her race.
Britain's Jade Johnson missed out on the medals in the long jump, despite setting a new personal best of 6.80m in the second round.
Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva, who won bronze in the triple jump, took gold with 7.07m ahead of compatriots Irina Simagina and Tatyana Kotova.
Cuba's Osleidys Menendez won the women's javelin title, setting a new Olympic record with her first effort of 71.53m.
And American Tim Mack won the men's pole vault title ahead of team-mate Toby Stevenson.
Mack set a new Olympic record of 5.95m, with Italy's Giuseppe Gibilisco taking the bronze.
The British men's 4x100m and 4x400m and the women's 4x400m squads all made it into their respective finals.
Elsewhere, British boxer Amir Khan guaranteed himself at least a silver medal in the lightweight category with a thrilling semi-final win.
The 17-year-old was behind against Kazakhstan's Serik Yeleuov after rounds one and two, but fought back brilliantly to reach Sunday's final, which takes place at 1241 BST.
In men's basketball, the United States 'Dream Team' suffered a shock defeat in the semi-finals.
The three-times defending Olympic champions were beaten 89-81 by Argentina and can now only win bronze.
China won two athletics gold medals at an Olympics for the first time in their history on Friday.
First, Xiang Liu set the evening alight with victory in the 110m hurdles, equalling the world record set by Colin Jackson in 1993.
Xiang became the first man to take track gold for China before Xing Huina won a dramatic women's 10,000m.
Britain's Paula Radcliffe dropped out with eight laps to go, leaving Xing to celebrate a surprise victory.
Xiang and Xing will defend their titles in four years time in front of a home crowd in Beijing.
But there was disappointment for Marion Jones, who will leave these Games without a medal.
Jones finished fifth in the long jump and later was involved in the handover which ended the United States' hopes of victory in the 4x100m relay.
Jones, who won five medals including three golds in 2000, ran the second leg but watched helplessly as third-leg runner Lauryn Williams set off too quickly, leaving herself with no chance of taking the baton.
Jones' moment of despair came shortly after the crowd watched Radcliffe's hopes of salvaging something from these Games end in more agony.
The Briton, who failed to finish the marathon, was well-placed after seven laps of the 10,000m but with 12 laps to go, she was left by the leaders and with her medal hopes over, Radcliffe opted to end her race.
Britain's Jade Johnson missed out on the medals in the long jump, despite setting a new personal best of 6.80m in the second round.
Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva, who won bronze in the triple jump, took gold with 7.07m ahead of compatriots Irina Simagina and Tatyana Kotova.
Cuba's Osleidys Menendez won the women's javelin title, setting a new Olympic record with her first effort of 71.53m.
And American Tim Mack won the men's pole vault title ahead of team-mate Toby Stevenson.
Mack set a new Olympic record of 5.95m, with Italy's Giuseppe Gibilisco taking the bronze.
The British men's 4x100m and 4x400m and the women's 4x400m squads all made it into their respective finals.
Elsewhere, British boxer Amir Khan guaranteed himself at least a silver medal in the lightweight category with a thrilling semi-final win.
The 17-year-old was behind against Kazakhstan's Serik Yeleuov after rounds one and two, but fought back brilliantly to reach Sunday's final, which takes place at 1241 BST.
In men's basketball, the United States 'Dream Team' suffered a shock defeat in the semi-finals.
The three-times defending Olympic champions were beaten 89-81 by Argentina and can now only win bronze.