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Big Ten Daily Olympic Recap - August 17
Aug. 17, 2008
Former Michigan volunteer assistant coach Michael Phelps became the first person in history to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics. His eighth and final gold hardware came in the 4x100m. medley relay when team USA swam to a world record time of 3:29.34. In women's basketball, Ohio State alum Katie Smith recorded 13 points and four rebounds for team USA as they defeated New Zealand by a score of 96-60. In beach volleyball, former Minnesota student-athlete Nicole Branagh paired with Elaine Youngs represented the United States in 0-2 loss to team China. In the finals of the women's 3-meter spring board, Iowa alum Nancilea Foster scored a 316.70 to claim eighth place. Just behind Foster was Indiana diver Christina Loukas in the ninth position as she posted a 315.70. Ex-Ohio State rower Margot Shumway combined with Lia Pernell, Lindsay Meyer and Jen Kaido took fifth place for the United States in the women's quadruple scull final. Their boat crossed the finish line in a time of 6:25.86. In the men's race, Michigan and Northwestern alums Matthew Hughes and Jamie Schroeder teamed up with Sam Sitt and Scott Gault to claim fifth place for team USA in a time of 5:47.64. In the women's eight rowing competition, former Wolverine Heather Mandoli and seven off her Canadian counterparts just missed the medal stand taking fourth with a time of 6:08.04. On the men's side, team USA put forth a bronze medal performance that included Ohio State and Wisconsin alums Bryan Volpenhein and Micah Boyd, clocking a 5:25.34. In softball, ex-Indiana pitcher Mariangee Bogado threw one inning for Venezuela in a 5-2 loss to Japan. Competing for Trinidad and Tobago in the 100m. hurdles was Penn State student-athlete Aleesha Barber. Barber clocked a national record time of 13.01 and placed fourth in her heat. In the women's 3,000m. steeplechase final, former Michigan distance specialist Anna Willard placed 10th with time of 9:25.63. In the men's 1500m. run, ex-Wolverine Nick Willis qualified for the finals competing with team New Zealand, clocking a time of 3:37.54. In the same semifinal, Canadian and former Michigan runners Nate Brannen and Kevin Sullivan each placed ninth in their heat in times of 3:39.10 and 3:40.30, respectively. Former Gopher volleyball player Lindsey Berg helped the United States defeat Poland by a score of 3-2, playing in four of the five sets. |
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