Sanya Richards-Ross leads 1-3 U.S. finish in women’s 400

LONDON -- Sanya Richards-Ross has been driven the last four years by the memory of her fade to third place down the final stretch of the 400 meters at the Beijing Games.

On Sunday she put her demons to rest by rallying in the final 100 meters to win gold, the first gold medal for the U.S. track and field team at the London Olympics.

Richards-Ross passed several runners -- including Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, who had beaten her in Beijing -- to win in 49.55 seconds. Ohuruogu was second in a season-best 49.70 seconds, with DeeDee Trotter of Orlando, Fla., outleaning Amantle Montsho of Botswana for third, 49.72 seconds to 49.75.

Richards-Ross, who was born in Jamaica but moved to Florida as a youngster, looked to be laboring Sunday as she entered the final curve but found a new and higher gear that carried her to victory.

That made for quite a successful year for the Richards-Ross household. Her husband, NFL cornerback Aaron Ross, played for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent. He has won two Super Bowl titles.

Richards-Ross will have a chance at a second gold medal in the 200 this week.

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