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Three Games Records Fall in Women's Javelin, Pole Vault and Walking
Cuba's world record holder and world champion Osleidys Menendez flung a world season second-best distance in the women's javelin, while China's Gao Shuying set a new Asian record in the women's pole vault final in the athletics competition of the Universiade on August 29.
Both athletes broke the games records to win their specialties easily.
Menendez, 21, heaved a winning distance 69.82 meters, 29 centimeters better than her world title winning mark at Edmonton early this month. Her winning toss today was the year's second best in the world, 1.72 meters shy of her world record set last July in Greece. The previous games record was 60.76 meters.
Gao, who finished fifth at the world championships in Edmonton with an Asian record beating jump, set a new Asian record of 4.52 meters in a four-hour marathon battle.
Gao Hongmiao of China also shattered the games record in the women's 10km walk this morning with a 43:20.00 show. Her time was one minute and 10 seconds inside the old games record.
The United States raked up four of 13 gold medals offered today, while China, medal table leader yesterday with three golds, took two more top honors. China and the United States are tying for the first place on the table, each with five golds.
Menendez, Sydney Olympic bronze medalist and one of the two world champions entering the Games, said:"I was physically in pretty good shape. My rivals were under pressure after the second round as I have already thrown 65.19 meters."
Gao Shuying met no challenge in the event, starting the opening height at 4.30 meters and sailed easily over the 4.40m both on first actions. She gave up further attacks at higher heights after setting the new Asian record. "My goal is to win a medal at the 2004 Olympics," said the 22-year-old Chinese after the triumph.
The US women's 4x100m relay squad repeated their world championship team's tragedy when the baton dropped again during the final exchange in the first heat.
The host Chinese women's relay team also had a dark day after they learned that they were disqualified due to an illegal baton exchange between their third and final runners.
Li Xuemei, the fastest Asian sprinter with a 10.79 personal best, started so fast that Zeng Xiujun failed to catch her within the exchange zone. When Li got the baton, her feet already stepped out of the limit line.
Andrew Pierce of the United States showed her powerful speed in the men's 400m final with a 45.34 winning clocking, while his compatriot Demertria Washington triumphed in the women's one lap final in 51.22.
Miguel Pate beat a relatively weak field to add another gold for the Americans in the men's long jump with a 8.07 winning jump. A.N. Famiglietti wounded up the U.S gold spree by winning the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in 8:21.97.
Russia's Aiexei Krovtsov had a tough battle against Belarus' Henadzi Maroz in the men's high jump final. Both jumpers cleared 2. 28 meters on their first attempts, but both failed at 2.30 meters.
With an identical clearing records in their previous jumps, a jump-off was needed to decide who would be the winner.
After both failed at 2.28 meters, the bar was lowered to 2.26m. But the pair failed again in their allowed one-try. The bar was further lowered to 2.24m, the two cleared the height with ease.
Under such dramatic situation, the bar was raised to 2.26m one more time. While Maroz failed to seize the chance, Krovtsov summoned all he left with a successful jump.
Estonia won its first athletics gold through Aleksander Tammert who tossed a 65.19 meters in the men's discus final.
Spain's P.A. Esterso won the men's 1,500m title in 3:43.98 while Turkey's Sureyya Ayhan took the women's 1,500m top laurel in 4:06.91.
The day's most grueling event - the men's 20km walk, was won by Italy's Lorenzo Civallero who clocked 1:24.42.
Spain's Juan Manuel Molina and He Xiaodong of China took the silver and bronze respectively. Jefferson Perez of Ecuador, the 1996 Olympic champion, finished a distance fifth.
There are four gold medals up to grab tomorrow.
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