Russia walks onto Olympic medal stand

BEIJING – Ahead of the fastest race at the Olympics later Saturday, Russia got on the medal stand with a walk. Valeriy Borchin was the surprise winner in the 20-kilometer walk, spoiling the farewell Olympics of Jefferson Perez, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist. "Silver is silver. I once heard an athlete say that his silver tasted like gold," said Perez, one of Ecuador's greatest sportsmen. "To me, silver is silver, bronze is bronze and gold is gold." Silver will be equally disappointing to Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell at the end of the season-long saga setting up track's premier event. Bolt went into the semifinals with the fastest time, but Gay proved that a hamstring strain no longer bothered him for perhaps the most anticipated race since the 1988 Olympic faceoff between Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson. Johnson was disqualified for doping after that race. This year, many doping cheats don't even make it to the games. On Saturday, Bulgarian middle-distance runner Daniela Yordanova tested positive for testosterone and will not compete at the Beijing Olympics. Team spokesman Todor Shabanski said the 1,500-meter runner was on the verge of flying to Beijing but will stay behind after the result of the "B'' sample became known. The 32-year-old Yordanova was fifth in the 1,500 at the 2004 Athens Games and was the bronze medalist at the 2006 European Championships. On the second straight clear and sunny day, several champions gave an early taste of things to come. Defending pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva took off her track suit for exactly one jump, clearing the qualifying height of 4.60 meters, 44 centimeters off her world record, to advance to Monday's final. Her closest challenger, Jennifer Stuczynski of the United States, also went through. "No problems. the goal was to make qualification without expending much energy," said Isinbayeva, who already broke her own world record twice this season. In the 400, favorite Sanya Richards did likewise, easily advancing to the semifinals with the fastest time. US runners were equally confident in the women's 100 heat. Lauryn Williams, Torri Edwards and Muna Lee all reached the quarterfinals. Edwards, the 2003 world champion, won the opening first-round heat in 11.26 seconds. Williams, a silver medalist in the 100 four years ago and the 2005 world champion, finished second in her heat in 11.38, a mere 0.01 behind Christine Arron of France. Lee won her heat in 11.33. The heptathlon entered its final day with the long jump and a change at the top of the competition. Nataliia Dobrynska of Ukraine jumped into the lead with a leap of 6.63 meters and a total of 5,045 points. American heptathlete Hyleas Fountain fell into second place with a leap of 6.38 and trails the Ukrainian by only 16 points. Pre-games favorite Lydmila Blonska was one foul away from elimination but came back in contention with a jump of 6.48 and a total of 4,913. Kelly Sotherton of Britain was a disappointing fifth place with 4,891 points. The competition ends with the javelin and the 800 later Saturday. The other final of the day was to come in the women's shot put. – AP