Dobrynska unstoppable in heptathlon

Ukraine’s Nataliia Dobrynska surged through with personal bests in the long jump and javelin to give her a healthy cushion for the final 800 metres...

Ukraine’s Nataliia Dobrynska surged through with personal bests in the long jump and javelin to give her a healthy cushion for the final 800 metres, where she did just enough to hang on to the heptathlon gold by 33 points. Lyudmila Blonska made it a Ukraine one-two with overnight leader Hyleas Fountain of the United States taking the bronze.

New Zealand’s Valerie Vili added Olympic gold to her world title thanks to a personal best throw of 20.56 on her first attempt, while her husband Andrei won bronze in the men’s event — with a best of 20.28.

Russian absentee

The morning’s 20km walk started with the unexplained absence of world record holder Sergey Morozov and ended with compatriot Borchin surging through the morning sun for gold in 1 hour 19:01 minutes, 14 seconds. Jefferson Perez of Ecuador, champion in 1996, took silver and announced his retirement with Australia’s Jared Tallent getting the bronze.

Brochin quizzed

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Unsurprisingly, Borchin, banned for doping as a junior and whose coach said a week ago had tested positive again only for his federation to rule otherwise, was immediately asked about drugs and his absent compatriots. “It is very unfortunate what happened to them and I have heard (the allegations about me) but I don’t know what’s going on,” he said.

In qualifying action it looks like another Jamaica vs US clash in the women’s 100 metres with Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Sherone Simpson and American trio Muna Lee, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams all looking good for Sunday’s final.

Hot favourite Pamela Jelimo looked ominous in qualifying for the women’s 800 metres final and evergreen Maria Mutola, running in her sixth Olympics at the age of 35, also ran strongly.

Sunday’s action kicks off with the women’s marathon in the morning when the National Stadium may just have stopped shaking.

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