Early impressions from the Friday morning track & field session at the Olympics...
--The home country is gonna go absolutely ape-nuts if Jessica Ennis (left/photo by Paul Merca) can continue the roll that she's on in the heptathlon.
After two events, Ennis leads US Olympic Trials champ Hyleas Fountain with a score of 2249 to Fountain's 2224, with a strong 12.54 clocking in the 100 hurdles, a world heptathlon best worth 1195 points, followed by a jump of 6-1 1/4 (1.86m) worth 1054 points, a mark that Fountain matched.
--The two American steeplers, Evan Jager and Donn Cabral looked impressive in their heats, with Jager finishing second in heat 1 in 8:16.61, and Cabral fourth in heat 3 in 8:21.46.
Reigning world champ Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya still looks like the man to beat, as he toyed with the field in heat 3, dropping to the back of the pack shortly after the start, and finished the race in lane 6, much as he did in winning last year's world championships in Daegu.
--All three American shot putters--Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting, and Christian Cantwell advanced to this evening's final, with Hoffa a one-and-done, throwing 70-1 (21.36m), the morning's top mark.
--Puerto Rico's Javier Culson looked impressive in heat 4 of the men's 400 hurdles, winning in 48.33 over Kerron Clement of the USA's 48.48, which was the fastest time of the day. Culson, a two-time world championships silver medalist, will be a factor as the event moves forward.
--All three Americans in the 400--Sanya Richards-Ross, Francena McCorory, and DeeDee Trotter, looked comfortable in winning their heats.
Renton HS and UW alum Aretha Thurmond throws the discus later today.
Results from the morning session are available here.
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