Kenyans run for gold as football giants clash

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By Simon Denyer

BEIJING (Reuters) - Kenyans run for their third track gold of the Olympics in the men’s 1,500 metres on Tuesday, and Jamaica battle for sprint honours once more against the United States in the women’s 100 metres hurdles.

The football tournament bursts into life with a semi-final between two of the sport’s fiercest rivals, Brazil and Argentina, in a contest enlivened by the genius of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi on opposing sides.

It is inside the steel latticework of the Bird’s Nest, though, that most attention will be focused on Day 11.

Russian athletics pin-up Yelena Isinbayeva brought cheers and smiles to a packed stadium late on Monday with a flamboyant, world record-breaking display in the women’s pole vaulting.

Kenyans were also celebrating two golds, a seventh successive win in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, and victory for one of athletics’ most exciting talents, 18-year-old Pamela Jelimo, in the women’s 800 metres.

They are hoping for a third on Tuesday through Asbel Kiprop or Augustine Kiprono Choge in the 1,500 metres.

Former compatriot and favourite Bernard Lagat, now running for the United States, shocked everyone by failing to qualify for the final, leaving the way clear for one of the Kenyans to bring the showcase middle-distance gold back home for a fourth time.

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The sudden emergence of Jamaican sprinters has been one of the biggest stories of the Games so far, and 100 metres world record-holder and new Olympic champion Usain Bolt will be strutting his stuff again in the 200 semi-finals.

Judging by the way he cantered through the opening rounds, qualifying for Wednesday’s final will be his only goal.

It has not been the start the U.S. track and field team had been hoping for, failing to get an expected gold in the men’s shot put and shut out of the medals entirely in the women’s 100 metres by a trio of Jamaican sprint queens.

They will be hoping for a measure of revenge against another strong Jamaican team in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, after they recorded the top three semi-final times, led by world numbers one and two Lolo Jones and Damu Cherry.

In the soccer tournament, Brazil are hoping for revenge against holders Argentina for defeat in Athens.

Despite winning five World Cups, they have never won Olympic gold and are desperate to set that right.

Ronaldinho is one of three over-age players in a team who otherwise have to be under 23 at the start of the year.

The AC Milan player is being bombarded with autograph requests in the Olympic Village, forcing Brazilian players to surround him at times.

Nigeria play Belgium in the other semi-final.

(Reporting by Beijing Olympics bureau; Editing by Ralph Gowling)