Rio Olympics Athletics: Jamaica, Kenya and U.S. strike gold

Jamaica, Kenya and the United States added to their athletics medal tallies in the 110 metres hurdles, womens 1,500m and mens triple jump on Tuesday, while Russias sole track and field competitor survived to compete another day at Rio. Athletes from Kenya, Croatia and Canada also claimed Olympic gold in a largely empty stadium, where announcers urged rowdy Brazilian fans to restrain themselves after provoking a French pole vaulter with a chorus of boos the night before. Jamaicas Omar McLeod earned the country its first gold in the mens sprint hurdles, Kenyas Faith Kipyegon devastated the field in the 1,500m and American Christian Taylor successfully defended his triple-jump gold. However, the loudest cheers of the night came for native pole vaulter Thiago da Silva as he received the gold medal he won on Monday night. The crowd once again booed silver medallist French Renaud Lavillenie, ignoring Da Silvas gestures asking for quiet. Lavillenie, who the night before had complained about the booing during his final attempt, apologised on Tuesday for having compared his experience to the hostility of Nazi Germany towards Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games. The announcer at the Rio Olympic Stadium at least four times during Tuesdays evening competition asked the crowd to be respectful to the competitors, a reaction the Carioca fans flashes of belligerence. Russian athletes in particular have faced hostile crowds in Rio as the result of a doping scandal that has shaded the Games. Long jumper Darya Klishina, the sole athlete from her country competing in track and field after the rest of the team was banned, escaped their wrath, but that was probably more a result of her slipping in unannounced and unnoticed rather than an overnight change of attitude. After earning a spot in Wednesdays final with a leap of 6.64m Klishina said she missed having team mates. It is very hard being the only Russian, she said. Unfortunately, I am here alone and this is a big responsibility. She looked to have missed her chance to compete at all when the IAAF suspended her last Saturday, only for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to over-rule. In the hurdles, McLeod beat Cuban-born Orlando Ortega who won silver for Spain, and Frenchman Dimitri Bascou, who took bronze. The left the United States with a medal in the event for the first time in 120 years - with the exception of the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games. Kipyegon bided her time through the slow early stages of the 1,500 race before setting off on a blazing second half with Genzebe Dibaba but then pulling clear of the world record holder. High jumper Derek Drouin earned Canadas third gold medal of the Games, clearing 2.38 metres to beat Qatars Mutaz Essa Barshim. Best day of my life In the morning session, American Taylor earned a second straight triple-jump gold with a 17.86m leap that is the furthest anyone has jumped this season, sailing 10cm longer than team mate Will Claye. But the 25-year-old silver medallist had one more good jump left in him, into the stands where he proposed to long-time girlfriend and former Olympian Queen Harrison, who burst into tears and accepted. When I woke up I was like, today is going to be the best day of my life, Claye told reporters. Im going to go out there and do what I have to do on the track and Im going to make her my fiancee. Croatias Sandra Perkovic also retained her shot put title with a third-round throw of 69.21 metres, 2.48 metres further than Melina Robert-Michon, who at 37 became Frances oldest Olympic medal winner in athletics. Four more athletics medals are on offer Wednesday, including the mens 3,000m steeplechase and the womens 100m hurdles. Agencies

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Rio Olympics Athletics: Jamaica, Kenya and U.S. strike gold