BEIJING — Team USA took its lumps on the track Sunday with several medal contenders coming up short. The U.S. women got shut out in the 100-meter finals, swept by Jamaica, and world champion Bernard Lagat failed to survive the semifinals of the 1,500 meters.
Hoping to double in the 1,500 and 5,000 — events he won at last year’s world championships — Lagat missed qualifying for the 1,500 final by .02 of a second. He was a bronze medalist in the 1,500 at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and silver medalist four years ago in Athens.
The semifinals of the 5,000 meters are Wednesday.
“Life goes on,” Lagat said. “I did my best. I knew it was going to be really competitive. I don’t know what happened.”
Shelly-Ann Fraser led the Jamaican juggernaught in the 100, running 10.78 seconds with teammates Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart tying for the silver medal. Lauryn Williams, the silver medalist in Athens, was the top American in fourth (11.03). Williams was world champion in 2005 and runner-up at last year’s world championships.
Muna Lee was fifth and Torri Edwards eighth.
