Top 5 Recap: Day 8 at 2012 London Olympic Games
August 10, 2012 | London, UK

Day 8 Full Results | Photos

1. USA Breaks World Record in 4x100!


The US women's 4x100 team smashed the world record today by 0.55 to edge out the Jamaican relay team for gold! The previous world record was 41.37 and the US team hit 40.82 as Carmelita Jeter brought the team into the line ahead of Kerron Stewart of Jamaica. It began with Tianna Madison as the first leg to hand off to Allyson Felix and then to Bianca Knight, all flawless hand-offs. It was a huge win for the US team who didn't even make it on the podium in 2008. 

Women's 4x100 results/recap


2. Heartbreak for Uceny

It was one of the most heartbreaking performances of the Games as Morgan Uceny fell for the 2nd time in a major championship in the women's 1500m final. Going into the final lap of the race, Uceny was tripped up as the pack began to move and fell to the side of the track, hitting her fists into the track in frustration.  The feeling was all too familiar to Uceny who in last year's World Championships fell in the final 500 meters after being tripped from behind.   

Women's 1500 results/recap


3. USA Men's 4x400 Gets Edged Out for Silver


It was a sad day for the US men's 4x400 team as Angelo Taylor, the US anchor was edged out in the final leg of the relay by the Bahamas' Ramon Miller for the gold.  In 2008, the US relay team of Angelo Taylor, Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt, and David Neville dominated the competition and set a new Olympic record of 2:55.39. Although it was good to see the Bahamas get their first Olympic gold medal, it was unfortunate to see Angelo Taylor get out-kicked in the final fifty meters for silver. 

Men's relay results/recap

4. Pole Vault Olympic Record Broken


It was a big day for French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie who set a new Olympic record in the pole vault and won his first gold medal. The European Champion and 2012 Indoor World Champion beat out former Olympic record holder Steve Hooker of Australia to cap off a great season.  

Men's Pole Vault recap/results


5. Defar Beats Dibaba for Gold in Women's 5k

It was a big comeback race for Meseret Defar who, after finishing with gold in Athens and bronze in Beijing, came back in the women's 5k final to out-kick reigning 5k and 10k champ Tirunesh Dibaba for the win.  Defar had the 5k world record until 2008 when Dibaba broke it, making this performance today sweet redemption for the Ethiopian. 

Women's 5k results/recap