BEIJING • Stephanie Brown Trafton was a bit surprised to find herself atop the podium after the discus competition at the National Stadium.

“There are expert throwers here that have a lot more experience than I do,” Brown Trafton said Monday. “I’m 27 years old, which is young compared to the field. I don’t have as much experience as they do, and I think it’s an awesome thing to have to peace of mind to go out and throw like it did.”

Brown Trafton, who didn’t make the finals of the discus in Athens, tossed the discus 212 feet, 5 inches on her first throw. The toss easily outdistanced Cuban silver medalist Yarelys Barrios’ 208-9. The gold is the first international title for Brown Trafton. It’s also the United States’ first discus gold medal since Lillian Copeland won one in 1932 in Los Angeles.

“This is by far the best competition I’ve ever been to, and obviously the best results I’ve ever gotten,” Brown Trafton said. “I mean, what more can you want other than a gold medal at the Olympic Games? I hope that we can continue to be on the world level in terms of competition.”1-2-3

Team USA 400-meter hurdle runners are doing their part to keep the U.S. on top of the track world. Holding off a field that included two Jamaican runners, the American trio, led by Angelo Taylor’s personal-best of 47.25 second swept the medal stand.

Taylor’s teammates, Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson finished with silver and bronze medals. Clement finished in 47.98 seconds while Jackson clocked a 48.06.

It was the first American multiple-medal finish in the event since a gold and bronze finish in Atlanta’s 1996 Games. It was the Americans’ first sweep in the event since the 1960 Rome Olympics. It was the fifth time overall that Americans have swept the event and they have been the only team to do it.

Vaulting for silver

Jenn Stuczynski put up 15-9 vault to claim the silver medal in the event. Russia’s Elena Isinbaeva of Russia set a world record on her third attempt, clearing 16-8.

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