Pistorius, the “Blade Runner” from South Africa, will become the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics when he takes the line in the 400 rounds Saturday. Pistorius, who was born without fibulas, won a ground-breaking case against track and field’s federation when arbitrators overturned the decision that his prosthetic legs provide an advantage. The Paralympic champion is also slated to run for South Africa’s 1,600relay team.

Richards-Ross advanced out of her first round, conserving energy with a time of 51.78. The St. Thomas Aquinas High graduate said she is feeling better than ever and that the springy track should produce fast times. Her top challenger is expected to be Botswana’s Amantle Montsho, who ran 50.40.

Ennis, popular with British fans and corporate sponsors, led after Day One’s four events, and broke Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s 1988 record in the heptathlon 100 hurdles.

Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba set the tone for her teammates by winning the women’s 10,000 meters in 30:20.75 with an incredible 62-second final lap. She’s won three Olympic golds, more than any other female distance runner. Kenyans took silver and bronze. Runners from those two East African countries won eight of nine golds in 2008 in the men’s 5,000, 10,000 and marathon, but Mo Farah, a native of Somalia who grew up in London, is the world record-holder in the 5K.

Poland’s Tomasz Majewski won the shot put and American Reese Hoffa took bronze.

Athletes such as Christian Taylor, Jesse Williams and Brittney Reese U.S. are leading a revival for American jumpers, and long jumpers Marquise Goodwin and Will Claye (former Florida Gator) advanced to Saturday’s final. Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva will make her last Olympic appearance in the pole vault.