Athens, Greece (My Sportsbook) - Mizuki Noguchi of Japan won the women's marathon on Sunday at the Olympics, finishing the race in a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, 20 seconds.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya won the silver medal, finishing 12 seconds off the pace.

American Deena Kastor took the bronze medal with a time of 2:27:20. Kastor, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, is the first U.S. woman to medal in the marathon since Joan Benoit won the gold medal in 1984. That was the first time the women's marathon was included on the Olympic program.

Defending Olympic champion Maurice Greene was one of three Americans advancing to tonight's final of the men's 100 meter sprint.. Greene tied for the second- best time in his heat at 9.97 seconds. Asafa Powell of Jamaica had the fastest time of 9.95 seconds, while Francis Obikwelu of Portugal was also clocked at 9.97 seconds.

American Shawn Crawford won his semifinal in 10.07 seconds, while Justin Gatlin will also be in the final after he had a time of 10.09 seconds.

American Matt Hemingway won a silver medal in the men's high jump with a mark of 2.34 meters, that was .02 meters shy of the gold medal performance of Sweden's Stefan Holm. Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic took the bronze, also with a mark of 2.34 meters. American Jamie Nieto was fourth.

Also Sunday, American Gail Devers aggravated a strained lower calf while racing in an opening-round heat of the women's 100-meter hurdles. At the start of heat five, the 37-year-old Devers, in lane six, came up injured before the first hurdle and did not finish the race. She fell to the ground and had to be assisted off the track into the locker room.

"On my last practice start I actually heard it pop," Devers said. "I tried not to scream because all the cameras were on me. Out on the warm up track I was waiting for it to loosen up but it just never happened. I first injured it seven days ago in Atlanta."

For Devers, she wasn't even expecting to medal in the hurdles.

"Everybody has their obstacles to overcome," Devers added. "To tell you the truth I was only hoping to get through the first round."

It's already been a tough Olympics for Devers. On Saturday she was denied a chance to go for a third gold medal in the 100-meters, as she failed to make the final. Devers finished seventh in her heat with a time of 11.22 seconds. The 1992 and 1996 Olympic champion, was a late replacement, taking the place of Torri Edwards, who was out following a doping violation.

Devers has never medaled in hurdles at the Olympics.

In the 100m hurdles semifinals at the 2000 Olympics, she pulled up with hamstring trouble. Devers had suffered hamstring and Achilles injuries while training for those Games, but pulled through to win the 100m hurdles at the Olympic trials in a new US record.

Devers was the world 100-meter hurdles champion in 1993, '95 and '99 and had won the event at the U.S. Trials this year.

American Joanna Hayes had the top time in the hurdles qualifying on Sunday by winning her heat in 12.71 seconds. Melissa Morrison of the U.S. also advanced with the fourth-best time of 12.76 seconds.

Americans Sheena Johnson and Brenda Taylor both advanced to the final of the women's 400-meter hurdles. Fani Halkia of Greece set an Olympic record with a time of 52.77 seconds in the best qualifying time. The final is Wednesday night.