PICS: Isinbayeva crashes, Sanchez dashes on day of upsets

Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic proved that age is no barrier to track success when he stormed to a second men's Olympic 400 metres hurdles gold medal on Monday, eight years after winning in Athens.

The 34-year-old, twice a world champion who was unbeaten in 43 successive races between 2001 and 2004, clocked 47.63 seconds to take victory.

Sanchez, running in reflective sunglasses from lane seven, made a strong start, ran a steady bend and had enough left in the tank in the home straight to hold off fast-closing American Michael Tinsley who secured silver in 47.91. Puerto Rico's Javier Culson (48.10), the fastest man this year, took bronze.

American Angelo Taylor, bidding for a third 400 hurdles gold after triumphs in Sydney and Beijing, was fifth, just behind world champion Dai Greene of Britain.

Yuliya Zaripova of Russia won the gold medal in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics on Monday, clocking the fourth-fastest time in history.

Zaripova won in 9 minutes, 06.72 seconds in cool conditions in the night session. Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia took silver in 9:08.37 and Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia finished third in 9.09.84.

Grenada's world champion Kirani James stormed home to take gold in the men's 400 metres at the London Olympics on Monday.

James won with a time of 43.94 seconds, ahead of the Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos and Lalonde Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago, who took silver and bronze respectively.

James, 19, looked in control of the race from the start, surging home half a second ahead of world junior champion Santos.

The United States, winners of the last seven Olympic men's 400 metres titles, did not have a representative in the final for the first time.

Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus won the women's shot put gold medal at the London Olympics on Monday, pushing New Zealand's Valerie Adams into second place.

The 31-year-old Ostapchuk, world champion in 2005, had the best mark of 21.36 meters on the third of her six attempts.

"It's my third Olympic Games and it's a long way to get to this gold medal," said Ostapchuk, who had notched the biggest shot put mark in a decade in the leadup to the Olympics. "This is to everyone" in Belarus.

Adams, who came to London as the defending Olympic, world, world indoor and Commonwealth champion and on a long winning streak, was New Zealand's biggest hope for Olympic gold. But she had to settle for silver with a best shot of 20.70.

Jenn Suhr of the United States won the gold medal in the women's pole vault on Monday, ending Russian Yelena Isinbayeva's bid for a third straight Olympic title.

Suhr won after clearing 4.75 meters at her second attempt, and missed every attempt at 4.80.

Yarisley Silva also cleared 4.75 on her second attempt for a Cuban national record, but lost on a countback and took silver.

Isinbayeva finished with bronze at 4.70. She had been aiming to be the first woman in track and field to win the same individual event in three straight Olympics.