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Early in that heat, America's best sprinter, Tyson Gay, tumbled awkwardly to the track after feeling a twinge in his left leg.
"I'm very disappointed," Gay said before returning to his hotel with his physiotherapist.
Later, relieved U.S. track officials reported that Gay suffered a severe left-hamstring cramp and that there was no sign of permanent damage.
Still, there was no word on when he might be able to resume running.
Gay, 25, ran the fastest 100 meters ever (9.68 seconds) in winning that event a week ago, though the wind negated a world record.
Gay is the reigning world champion in both the 100 and 200 meters. Unlike some other sports, the U.S. Olympic track team is decided entirely on the performance in the trials.
By not advancing out of his heat in the 200 meters, Gay didn't make the Olympic team in that event and the injury casts doubt on whether he will be able to run in the 100 meters in Beijing.
Third time for Rhines. At 34, Jen Rhines is coming back down the runner's mountain.
After making the Olympic team at 10,000 meters in 2000, then moving up to the marathon for the 2004 Games, the Villanova graduate will be representing the United States at a mere 5,000 meters in Beijing.
Rhines qualified Friday night, finishing second to Kara Goucher in a stirring women's 5,000 final. Goucher was timed in 15 minutes, 01.02 seconds, Rhines at 15:02.02.
"I'm right where I want to be," said Rhines. "I had a breakthrough back in 2006 when I broke 15 minutes for the first time [in the 5,000]. I'd always liked the shorter distances but I wasn't quite getting the results I'd hoped for. So back in 2004, I thought if I placed in the top 10 at the Olympics, I'd move up [permanently] to the marathon. But I ended up coming in 34th and I was quite disappointed. . . . I think I'm better-suited to the shorter distances."
Maureen McCandless, a Nazareth Academy graduate from Bensalem, finished 12th in 15:54.50.
Notable. Somali-born Abdi Abdirahman won the men's 10,000 late Friday in 27:41.89. Oregon's Galen Rupp was second and Jorge Torres third. Sean Quigley of La Salle University was ninth in 28:21.96. . . . UCLA graduate Jessica Cosby won the women's hammer throw.
Princeton grad Tora Harris failed to qualify in the high jump, which was won by Jesse Williams at 7 foot, 61/2 inches, ahead of Jamie Nieto and Andra Manson. . . . Michelle Carter, daughter of ex-49ers defensive tackle Michael Carter, won the women's shot put. He was a silver medalist in the shot in 1984.
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