BEIJING - It took four days for the USA to win its first track and field gold medal of the Beijing Olympics - and then by someone not even on the radar screen of most prognosticators. Discus thrower Stephanie Brown Trafton, a San Luis Obispo native, took the lead with a 212-foot, 5-inch first throw Monday night at the Bird's Nest Stadium. That held up to end a 76-year USA women's title drought in throwing events. The only previous American golds came at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, in the discus and javelin. "I had a far throw and nobody else stepped up," the 6-4 Brown Trafton said. "I won a gold medal! I almost started to cry on the victory lap." Her tears were a bit more evident after the Star-Spangled Banner played for the first time at an awards ceremony in the Bird's Nest. The 28-year-old Cal Poly grad had been the world leader most of the season, throwing a personal best 217-1 on May 5 at Hartnell College in Salinas. She currently lives in Galt and trains at Sacramento City...
Originally from: http://www.redwoodcitydailynews.com/article/2008-8-20-baer-two |