Scenes from the Bird’s Nest – August 18

There was a lot of action at the National Stadium in Beijing yesterday. Here are the results:

Defending Gold Medalist, Elena Isinbaeva of Russia easily won the Gold Medal in the women’s pole vault, setting a new world record of 5.05. Jennifer Stuczynski of the United States, who just began pole vaulting four years ago, finished second for the Silver Medal. Svetlana Feofanova of Russia took the Bronze Medal.

In the women’s 800m event, Kenya’s Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Japkosgei Busienei took the Gold and Silver Medals, respectively. Hasna Benhassi or Morocco took the Bronze Medal.

Janeth Japkosgei Busienei is the current world champion in the 800m.

The Americans swept the medals in the men’s 400m hurdles, led by Sydney Gold Medalist, Angelo Taylor. Following Taylor for the Silver and Bronze were Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson.

Panama’s Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda won the men’s long jump competition. Khotso Mokoena of South Africa took the Silver Medal and Ibrahim Camejo of Cuba was awarded the Bronze Medal. This was the first Olympic Gold Medal for Panama.

It was a Kenyan leading the field again in the men’s 3000m steeplechase event, with that country’s Brimin Kipruto siezing the Gold Medal. France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-B won the Silver Medal and Kenya’s Richard Kipkimboi Mateelong earned the Bronze. A Kenyan has won the Olympic Gold Medal in the steeplechase in every event since 1984.