AUSTIN (KXAN) — Quincy Hall provided another breathtaking moment on the track for the U.S. with a late comeback and multiple runners took a gnarly spill Wednesday during the Paris Olympics.
Similar to Cole Hocker's come-from-behind victory in the men's 1,500-meter run Tuesday, Hall didn't make his move until the final 100 meters. With a grimace of determination from the seventh lane, Hall began to track down the leaders from his fourth-place position coming off the final turn to win gold in 43.40 seconds, a personal best.
Hall became the first American to win gold in the event since LaShawn Merritt at the 2008 Beijing Games and it's the fifth-fastest time ever. Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith finished with silver in 43.44 and Zambia's Muzala Samukonga earned bronze in 43.74. The top five runners were separated by .47 seconds.
Hall's improbable finish electrified the 80,000-plus fans at Stade de France. Hall caught Samukonga first coming out of the last turn and then set his sights on Grenada's Kirani James, who fell off the pace significantly to finish fifth. Hall then slid by Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards in the outside lane and capped his incredible race by passing Hudson-Smith with about 10 meters left, leaning over the line for Olympic glory.
Three U.S. runners qualified for the 400 final. Christopher Bailey finished sixth in 44.58 and Michael Norman was eighth in 45.62.
Near the end of the first heat in the men's 5,000, runners went down left and right.
Canada's Mohammed Ahmed was the first to go down on a straight-away, but he didn't take anyone with him. On the last lap of the race, it was carnage.
Great Britain's George Mills appeared to make contact with France's Hugo Hay, causing Mills to tumble onto the surface in front of other runners. Spain's Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Dominic Lobalu of the Olympic Refugee Team tripped over Mills, and Mike Foppen of the Netherlands fell over trying to avoid them.
After the race, Mills got in Hay's face and confronted him about the interaction. Video of the race showed Hay extending his left arm after Mills began to crowd him down the stretch. Hay qualified for the final on time.
All four runners were advanced to Saturday's final by race officials due to the contact but Ahmed was left out after appeal. Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the qualifying round with a 13:51.59. American Grant Fisher qualified in fourth with a 13:52.44.
