TOKYO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Liu Shiying contributed China's second gold in athletics events at Tokyo 2020, while Italy and Jamaica both set their national record and won the men's and women's 4x100m relay titles respectively on Friday.
Liu made a powerful throw of 66.34 meters on her first attempt delivered the first women's javelin gold medal for China. The 28-year-old only made two successful attempts but that was enough to secure her historic victory. Liu's teammate Lyu Huihui ranked fifth with 63.41.
Poland's Maria Andrejczyk won silver with 64.61, while bronze went to Australia's Kelsey-Lee Barber with 64.56.
"I didn't think I was going to win a medal. I had an injury. I didn't pay attention to what others were doing. I only paid attention to my race. If there's someone doing better than me then it means I have to improve. I was really calm," said Liu. "Javelin isn't very well known as a sport in China. I expect to promote the sport in my country."
Newly-crowned men's 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs won his second gold medal as Italy won the men's 4x100m relay title with a strong finish. The winner was decided at the finishing line. Italy overtook Britain to win by 0.01 seconds with 37.50 seconds. Canada, anchored by men's 200m gold medallist Andre de Grasse, finished third in 37.70.
Led by Su Bingtian, China team finished fourth again with 37.79 after the final at Rio 2016.
The women's 4x100m gold went to Jamaica in 41.02 seconds, with a side which included all the medalists of the 100m competition. The USA ranked second with 41.45 and Britain finished third in 41.88. China, which made their first appearance in the final since Sydney 2000, finished sixth in 42.71.
Kenya's Faith Kipyegon won the women's 1,500m gold with new Olympic record of three minutes and 53.11 seconds, after passing Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands on the last lap. Laura Muir of Great Britain claimed the silver with 3:54.50, and Hassan took bronze with 3:55.86.
Hassan won the women's 5,000m gold on Monday, and will compete in the women's 10,000m on Saturday.
"I am very happy with my race. I tried my best, but I couldn't do more than this. I think, for me, third place is good. For now, it is all about taking enough rest in order to be able to race again tomorrow," said Hassan.
Said Kipyegon, "Once I crossed the finish line, it was a very emotional moment for me. I thought about my daughter who I left behind at home. She wanted me to bring home a gold medal, and I am so happy and excited I did that."
Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei won the men's 5,000m race in 12 minutes and 58.15 seconds, after having taken silver in the 10,000m. Mohammed Ahmed of Canada finished second with 12:58.61, with Paul Chelimo of the United States taking bronze in 12:59.05.
In the women's 400m, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas easily retained her Olympic title in 48.36 seconds, ahead of Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who took silver in 49.20. Allyson Felix gave the United States a bronze in 49.46.
In Sapporo, Antonella Palmisano of Italy won her maiden international title after winning the women's 20m racewalk. The 30-year-old was in a competition of her own in the closing kilometers, clocking one hour 29 minutes and 12 seconds for the gold medal.
"I wasn't the favourite. But today is my birthday so I really thought that fortune was on my side," said Palmisano.
Sandra Lorena Arenas became the third Colombian woman to achieve an Olympic medal in athletics with a silver, 25 seconds behind Palmisano.
China's defending champion Liu Hong took the bronze in 1:29:57, in the process becoming the first female race walker to win three Olympic medals, following her gold from Rio 2016 and bronze from London 2012. Qieyang Shijie and world record holder Yang Jiayu finished seventh and 12th respectively.
Dawid Tomala of Poland won the men's 50km race walk gold in 3:50.08. Jonathan Hilbert of Germany finished second with 3:50.44, with Canada's Evan Dunfee taking bronze with season's best of 3:50.59. Enditem
