Alfred takes 100m as sensational Bol breaks US hearts
Femke Bol ran a stunning last lap to lead the Netherlands to victory in the Olympic 4x400 metres mixed relay on Saturday, glorious redemption for the 24-year-old who fell just before the line in the same race at last year's world championships. Bol got the baton in fourth place, around 20 metres behind the leading Americans, but ate up the ground in a spectacular 47.93-second leg before passing American Kaylyn Brown just before the line. The Dutch team of Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink and Bol clocked three minutes 7.43 seconds, missing the world record time the Americans set in Friday's heats by just two-hundredths of a second. Elsewhere, Julien Alfred delivered a brilliant gun-to-tape performance to win the women’s 100 metres final and claim Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal, though the controversial absence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce left a cloud over the race. Alfred made her usual slick start and remained clear in heavy rain on a sodden track to come home in a national record 10.72 seconds. World champion and race favourite Sha'Carri Richardson took silver in 10.87 but the American never really threatened and her compatriot Melissa Jefferson claimed bronze in 10.92. Double Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce, appearing in her fifth Olympics, was listed as 'Did Not Start' shortly before the semi-finals and her lane remained empty. Social media footage later emerged of her and Jamaican team members arguing with officials who appeared to be refusing to let her in. Fraser-Pryce was heard saying "they've changed the rules, we always come through this gate". World Athletics said it was still awaiting official confirmation of the reason for her absence from the Jamaican team. Norway's Markus Rooth captured a shock gold medal in the men's decathlon after defending champion Damian Warner's title defence ended when he failed to clear a height in the pole vault. And Thea LaFond made history for her Caribbean island nation of Dominica by winning gold in the triple jump to claim the country's first ever Olympic medal. Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts took then silver and the United States' Jasmine Moore claimed bronze. (Reuters)