Day 4 of the Olympics--Evening session..

7:23 am--World record for Yelena Isinbayeva! (left/file photo by Paul Merca) How about that?!? Two straight Olympics, and two straight world records at the Games!

Parker writes on the IAAF site, "New World Record of 5.05m for Isinbayeva! She back-flipped on the mat to celebrate, and is now taking a lap of honor with her flag."

This is the third straight night that a world record's been set at the Bird's Nest.

We are going to sign off...In the Tuesday morning session, Kara Patterson of Vancouver competes in the women's javelin qualifying at 9:00 am in Beijing (6:00 pm Monday night in Seattle).

7:15 am--Correction; Isinbayeva passed to 5.05m/16-6 3/4, which is a world record if successful. She's missed once already.

By the way, after our post early, we neglected to tell folks that the rain stopped after the first few events.

7:05 am--Looks like the Bubba Thornton curse may be over, as Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement, and Bershawn Jackson sweep the 400 hurdles!

Eight years after winning his first title, Taylor wins it in 47.25, a personal best, with favorite Clement running 47.98, and Jackson 48.06.

Isinbayeva's made 4.95m/16-2 3/4 on her third attempt, a new Olympic record. The bar's going to 5.00/16-4 3/4.

6:50 am--The long jump is over-reigning world champ Irving Saladino wins it with a mark of 8.34m/27-4 1/2.

6:40 am--Pamela Jelimo of Kenya wins the 800 in a world junior record of 1:54.87, with reigning world champ Janeth Jepkosgei second in 1:56.07, a season best. The Russians were never a factor, as Hasna Benassi of Morocco, last year's second place finisher at worlds, grabbed third in 1:56.73. The great Maria Mutola of Mozambique runs 1:57.68 for fifth in what is probably her final Olympics.

In the pole vault, Jenn Stuczynski will finish second with a best jump of 4.80m/15-9. Yelena Isinbayeva will win, as she leads with a mark of 4.85m/15-11. How high does she want to go? We'll find out.

6:25 am--In the steeple, the Kenyans, in a bit of an upset, go 1-3 after being projected to sweep. Brimin Kipruto wins in 8:10.34, with Richard Matelong third at 8:11.01. Mekhissi from France splits the Kenyans, running 8:10.49.

Meanwhile back at the pole vault, Jenn Stuczynski will be assured of second place...the bar's at 4.90m/16-0 3/4, with her and Yelena Isinbayeva still left.

Wonder if the Kenyan federation regrets putting in Paul Koech, who tripped in the Kenyan trials? There was talk that they would add him anyway...

6:05 am--Two of the three Americans, Sheena Tosta (54.07) and Tiffany Ross-Williams advance to the finals in the 400 hurdles (54.99). Pole vault's at 4.75m/15-7, and we're down to five athletes.

Men's steeplechase finals are next up on the track.

5:25 am--In the pole vault, the bar's at 4.65m/15-3. Only two athletes have been eliminated.

Pole vault fans can check out polevaultpower.com for live updates.

5:15 am--The discus is over, and in a mild upset, Stephanie Brown Trafton's first round throw holds up for the win. She's been the world leader, but folks thought that her lack of experience at the world level would go against her.

5:10 am--Usain Bolt looked very smooth in running a very casual 20.29 to win heat 1 of the 200m second round. Shawn Crawford was second.

Other finals tonight include the men's steeple, the men's long jump-of which there are no Americans in an event that's historically a strength of the USA; the women's 800, and the men's 400 hurdles.

Maybe the 400 hurdles gets Team USA back on track with Kerron Clement, Angelo Taylor, and Bershawn "Batman" Jackson...

4:50 am--Another favorite goes down in the 100 hurdles, as Susanna Kallur of Sweden fell over the first hurdle. Damu Cherry and Dawn Harper go 1-2 in 12.62 & 12.66...

4:40 am--Lolo Jones just ran 12.43 to win heat 1 of the semis of the 100 hurdles. It's the fastest time in the world this year. Priscilla Lopes of Canada was third in 12.68.

They just showed a shot of the four discus throwers that didn't make the finals, and Thurmond was one of them. She'll finish tenth with her second round throw her best.

4:35 am--Thurmond's been bumped down to ninth about halfway through round 3. She won't make the finals.

4:30 am--57.99/190-3 for Aretha in round 3. She's in eighth, and on the bubble to miss the opportunity to get three more throws...

4:15 am--Thurmond throws 59.80/196-2. She doesn't look particularly good or pleased. On the Bahamian TV feed, they panned to her coach Jerry Clayton in the stands, and he's not too pleased either.

Here's a link to a story on runblogrun.com on the fallout from Liu Xiang's injury...

4:00 am--We're getting things started quickly. First events underway are the women's discus featuring Aretha Thurmond from Federal Way, and the women's pole vault.

Aretha throws second in the order, and she spins the platter 56.72 (186-1). Her teammate Stephanie Brown Trafton's not messing around, as she goes into the lead at 64.74 (212-5).

Parker Morse informs us that there's a light rain at the stadium. It's about 81 degrees at the start of tonight's session.