Former Florida sprinter Kerron Clement (LaPorte, Texas) was part of the United States men’s 4x400-meter relay team that won its heat to advance to the finals, as athletes with Gator ties were in action in baseball and track and field on Friday at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Track and Field

Clement, fresh off claiming the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles, was part of the United States men’s 4x400-meter relay team that finished first in its heat and third overall in the event’s first round in a time of 2:59.98.

Clement, participating in the first Olympic Games of his career, ran the second leg of the relay that also included David Neville, Regi Witherspoon and 400-meter hurdle Gold Medalist Angelo Taylor.

The finals of the men’s 4x400-meter relay commences at 9:05 a.m. EDT Saturday.

Baseball

Three-run homers by Alexei Bell and Ariel Pestano highlighted a six-run eighth inning as Cuba broke open a close game en route to defeating the U.S. Olympic baseball team, 10-2, on Friday evening in semifinal action at the Wukesong Main Field.

The loss snapped Team USA's four-game winning streak and puts the U.S. in the bronze-medal game against Japan on Saturday morning, with first pitch scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time (Friday night at 10:30 p.m. EDT). Cuba advances to face Korea in the gold-medal game.

Things were tight heading into the late innings with Cuba clinging to a 4-2 lead against the U.S. The Red, White & Blue managed to twice cut two-run deficits in half but could get no more than one run in either the fourth or fifth innings. Former Gator Matt LaPorta remained on the sidelines after suffering a mild concussion in the preliminary-round win over China.

2008 Gator Medal Count: 10   (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze) 

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