Aug. 21, 2008

Beijing - Erin Donohue finished eighth in her heat Thursday with a time of 4:16.05, failing to advance in the Women's 1500-meter run. Donohue finished less than two and a half seconds behind the event's leader, Kenyan Nancy Jebet Langat (4:03.02), as 12 women advanced to the event's final held Saturday.

Donohue made her Olympic debut for the United States this summer in Beijing, where she hoped to contend for a medal in the women's 1500m. No American woman has ever won an Olympic medal at that distance.

Donohue qualified for Beijing with a runner-up finish in the 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 4:08.20. After crossing the finish line, she jumped on the back of race-winner Shannon Rowbury, her training partner, in celebration.