BEIJING — Denver East graduate David Oliver and former University of Colorado star Kara Goucher advanced in preliminary rounds today on the Olympic track.
Oliver qualified easily for Wednesday’s semifinals of the 110-meter hurdles, putting him one step closer to a showdown with world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba. The two hurdlers have dominated their event this year. The 110-hurdles final is Thursday.
Goucher shook off the disgust she felt after finishing 10th last Friday in the 10,000 meters, advancing to the finals of the 5,000 which will be held Friday.
Oliver has had the fastest time in both preliminary rounds.
“I ran 20 good hurdles, I have 20 more left to go to get to my ultimate goal,” Oliver said.
The 110 hurdles had been one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Games, in any sport, until Chinese superstar Liu Xiang went out with an injury Monday. American Terrence Trammell also had to pull out with an injury.
“It’s disappointing when you lose two of the best competitors who probably ever ran the event,” Oliver said. “I have to go out there and take care of my lane, just like I was going to, regardless.”
An NCAA cross country champion at CU (2000), Goucher was furious with herself in the 10,000 meters for mentally checking out of the race when the leaders got away from her, but she was focused today.
“There’s two different Karas,” Goucher said with a laugh. “One is a world-class athlete, she can beat anybody. The other one is just an OK athlete, better than most. The better-than-most girl was there (last) Friday. Tonight and (this) Friday, I don’t care how I place, I just want the world-class Kara to show up.”
The other Americans in the women’s 5,000, Shalane Flanagan and Jen Rhines, also advanced. Flanagan took a bronze medal in the 10,000.
The American favorites in the men’s 400, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt, won their semifinal heats easily.
Sanya Richards, who was expected to win the women’s 400 meters, faded down the home stretch after leading most of the race and settled for a bronze medal after her right hamstring tightened with about 80 meters to go.
“I knew that gold was mine,” Richards said. “I felt so good, I was already elated coming off the turn, I just had a really tough break. My hamstring let me down. I just feel like I’ve worked so hard in vain.”
The women’s 100-meter hurdles was pretty dramatic. The gold medal favorite, LoLo Jones of the US, was in the lead until clipping the second-to-last hurdle and faded to seventh. The US did get a gold medal, though, by Dawn Harper.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
