Track and Field Day 5: Athing Mu, Gabby Thomas Aim for Gold originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Four gold medals are up for grabs on Day 5 of track and field action at the Tokyo Olympics and there are plenty of Americans who could end up a winner.
Athing Mu returns to the track and a gold medal favorite in the women’s 800m, while Gabby Thomas will try to dethrone two of the fastest women in the world, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the Women’s 200m.
American’s Christopher Nilsen and KC Lightfoot will attempt to medal in the men’s pole vault final and three American women will compete in the women’s hammer throw final.
Here’s everything you need to know on Day 5 of track and field.
Women’s 800m Final
Can anyone compete with Athing Mu? That question will be answered in the women’s 800m final as medals are up for grabs. The 19-year-old Mu is one of America’s brightest stars and has her sights set on gold. Mu has dominated the competition so far posting times of 2:01.10 in Round 1 and 1:58.07 in the semifinals. She finished first in both heats, which could be a sign of what is to come in the final.
Watch the women’s 800m final at 8:25 a.m. ET here
Women’s 200m Final
American Gabby Thomas has a tall task in front of her as she competes for a medal in the Women’s 200m final. Thomas will face off against two of the fastest women in the world in Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Thompson Herah earned the title of fastest woman alive, winning gold in the women’s 100m with an Olympic record time of 10.61. Fraser-Pryce earned silver finishing shortly behind her with a time of 10.74.
Both Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce easily finished first in both of their Round 1 and semifinal heats. Thomas was the fastest of the non-automatic qualifiers with a time of 22.01 in the semifinals.
Watch the women’s 200m final at 8:50 a.m. ET here.
Men’s 200m Semifinals
Three Americans will attempt to make the men’s 200m final.
Reigning 200m world champion Noah Lyles crossed the finish line first in his Round 1 heat with a time of 20.18 seconds.
17-year-old Erriyon Knighton also finished first with a time of 20.55 seconds.
Kenny Bednarek ran the fast time of all the Americans competing, finishing first in 20.01 seconds.
Watch the men’s 200m semifinals starting at 7:50 a.m. here
Men’s Pole Vault Final
American’s Christopher Nilsen and KC Lightfoot will compete for a medal in the men’s pole vault final. Nilsen is a two-time NCAA champion in the outdoor pole vault (2018, 2019) and a 2017 NCAA champion in the indoor pole vault.
Lightfoot replaced Sam Kendricks who was forced to withdraw from the competition after testing positive for COVID-19.
Watch the men’s pole vault final at 6:20 a.m. ET.