Olympic notes.(Chicago Tribune)

SYDNEY, Australia _ Excluding the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games, the United States had won seven straight gold medals in the long jump and never had gone without a medal in the event.

That streak ended Thursday, when the lone U.S. jumper in the final, Dwight Phillips, finished eight with a best jump of 26 feet, 5 { inches.

He never was a factor in a terrific competition between three-time world champion Ivan Pedroso of Cuba and unlikely rival Jai Taurima of Australia.

Taurima had gained his only previous renown by saying in early September you could count out the ``dark athletes'' in these Olympics because of what was expected to be cold weather in …