I think I may have jinxed five US athletes. When I went to the Prefontaine Classic in June, I managed to get several autographs on my event program. Well, so far, anyone who signed my program has suffered disappointment and defeat at the Olympics.

On the cover we have, from top left to bottom right: LaShawn Merritt, Adam Nelson, Tori Edwards, and Brad Walker. On page 10 of the program, Bernard Lagat.



So far, Lagat's Olympics has been the most disastrous. Favored to win the Gold Medal in the 1500-meter run, he didn't even advance out of the semi-finals. Adam Nelson, expected to medal in the shot put, if not win, made it through the qualifying rounds, but went on to fault three times in a row and miss making the final eight. Tori Edwards, the 2007 World Champion in the 100-meter dash, made it to the final of her event, but flinched in the starting blocks. The starter never called the racers up, and Edwards, caught flat-footed when the gun went off, finished dead last. Brad Walker, the American Record holder and 2007 World Champion in the Pole Vault, no-heighted in the qualifying rounds and is out of the Olympics.

There's still hope, though. LaShawn Merritt, expected to get Silver or better in the 400-meter dash, has looked excellent through the rounds, qualifying for the final easily. And Lagat has a chance to redeem himself in the 5000-meter run; he won his qualifying heat to make the final.  ¶ 12:37 AM