Sweep has US back on track

Taylor caps comeback, leads way in hurdles

It wasn't quite as easy as 1-2-3, but Angelo Taylor (right, gold), Kerron Clement (left, silver), and Bershawn Jackson (bronze) were all smiles after the race. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

BEIJING - As soon as Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement, and Bershawn Jackson swept the 400-meter hurdle final, the trio began a victory celebration draped in American flags. It was a welcome sight at the National Stadium for the US team. Up until that point, it had been a rare sight. Until last night, the usually dominant US track team had not won a gold medal.

The hurdlers were well aware of slow start by the US, and sought to pick up the team with their performances. They have talked since the Olympic trials of sweeping. It is the fifth time the US has swept the men's 400 hurdles at the Olympics and the first time since 1960.

Taylor became the first 400-meter hurdler since Edwin Moses to capture gold eight years apart. Moses won at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Taylor won his first gold at Sydney in 2000 but has struggled with injuries since. He did not make the final at the 2004 Athens Games because of stress fractures in his shins.

"It means the world to me [to win another gold]," said Taylor. "To go through what I went through and be back on top means the world to me. I haven't run this fast since 2001.

"Coming back in 2004, I wanted to defend my title, but I didn't even make the final. I was disappointed, but at the same time I made the team injured."

Taylor finished in a personal-best 47.25 seconds, but he thought he could have gone faster. Clement finished second in 47.98 and Jackson wrapped up third in 48.06. Coming out of Lane 7, 2005 world champion Jackson had the strongest start of the Americans. But Taylor essentially led from start to finish, separating himself from the field on the back straight and staying ahead until the finish. Reigning world champion Clement didn't have enough left to eclipse Taylor.

"We are the best three hurdlers in the world," said Clement. "We proved that today. I'm really happy with my silver. All season, we've been very consistent. I was focusing on myself and the hurdles and going one, two, three."

Jackson overcame an error-filled run to secure the bronze. He was fourth coming off the last hurdle.

"I was pushing it," said Jackson. "I wanted it so bad, but I kept making errors. I kept crashing hurdles. I think I hit three or four. But all three of us know what it takes to win."

And apparently the US track team has remembered what it takes to win. The 400 hurdle sweep plus a gold medal won by discus thrower Stephanie Brown Trafton and a silver medal earned by pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski increased the US track medal total from four to nine in less than three hours.