Taylor wins men's 400m hurdles gold

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Sydney: American Angelo Taylor won the men's 400 metres hurdles Olympics gold on Wednesday. Taylor timed 47.50 seconds to beat Saudi Arabian Hadi Souan Somayli and Llewellyn Herbert of South Africa.

The 21-year-old Taylor came to Sydney with the year's best time of 47.62. It was the fifth Olympics in-a-row that an athlete from the United States has won the title. In all, the United States have won the event 17 times out of 22.

Schumann upstages Kipketer in 800m final

Meanwhile, Nils Schumann of Germany upstaged three-times world champion Wilson Kipketer to win the men's 800 metres gold.

Schumann, the 1998 indoor and outdoor European champion, timed one minute 45.08 seconds to beat Kipketer, the favourite, and Aissa Djabir Said-Guerni of Algeria.

Kipketer, born in Kenya but who switched allegiance to Denmark, had been the huge favourite but got boxed in on the back straight of the second lap. He moved wide to try and find a way past, but the 22-year-old Schumann held him off in the final metres.

Kipketer was the sentimental choice after missing the 1996 Olympics when Kenya refused to allow him to run as a Dane. Reigning champion Vebjorn Rodal of Norway failed to qualify for the final.

Shishigina wins women's 100m hurdles

Olga Shishigina of Kazakhstan won the women's Olympic 100 metres hurdles gold as pre-games favourite Gail Devers was left on the sidelines. Shishigina timed 12.65 seconds to beat Glory Alozie of Nigeria (12.68) and Melissa Morrison of the United States (12.76).

Shishigina, the 1995 world silver medallist but who was hit by a two-year drugs ban in 1996, had to fight back after a poor start to overhaul Alozie just before the final hurdle.

American Devers, looking for her first olympic hurdles title to go with her two 100 metres flat titles, crashed out in the semi-finals.

Alozie took part although her fiancee was killed just before the games. She considered pulling out but felt her place was at the Olympics.

Hyginus Anugo, a 200 and 400 metres runner training with Nigeria's Olympic team, died after being struck by a car near the Olympic village. He was 22.

Sri Lankan Jayasinghe cruises into 200 semis

Controversial Sri Lankan sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe cruised into the semi-finals of the women's 200 metres. Jayasinghe won her second round heat in 22.54 seconds, the fourth fastest time going into Thursday's semi-finals behind Beverly Mcdonald of Jamaica (22.44), Melinda Gainsford-Taylor of Australia (22.49) and favourite Marion Jones of the United States (22.50). The final will also be run on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jayasinghe easily won her first round heat in 22.53 seconds. Jayasinghe said last week she had put a drug scandal and injury worries behind her and felt she could repeat her surprise silver medal in the World Championships three years ago.

That performance in Athens shocked the athletics world and made her a national hero. Months later she tested positive for an anabolic steroid but was later cleared by Sri Lankan athletics officials.

Jayasinghe was then hit by lower back and hamstring problems and a dispute with sports officials in Sri Lanka which led to her going to the United States to train.

Sri Lanka have won only one Olympic medal, a silver in the 400 metres hurdles by Duncan White in 1948 in London.

Jones, in a class of her own in Saturday's 100 metres final, is a huge favourite for the 200 as well. Her preparations, however, have been hit by Monday's revelations that her husband and world champion shotputter C J Hunter, has tested positive for steroids.

"When I stood on the track this morning, all the things that have happened over the last couple of days kind of pushed to the back of my head."

Australian Freeman, who fulfilled the hopes of a nation by winning the 400 metres crown on Monday, also qualified but she was made to work, suggesting her showdown with Jones over 200 metres might be a one-sided affair.

She was fifth entering the final straight and had to dig deep to take third in a heat won by Jamaica's Beverley McDonald, who set the fastest qualifying time of 22.44. Freeman's time was a modest 22.75.



(c) Reuters Limited.