The world champion Bernard Lagat of the United States failed to qualify for the Olympic 1500 metres final, ending American hopes of their first title in the event for 100 years - and a New Zealander beat him in that race.
Lagat finished sixth in the semi-final, one place behind Wellington's Nick Willis, to miss the last qualifying spot for Tuesday night's final by two hundredths of a second.
Lagat has won silver and bronze for Kenya in the 1500 metres.
The other Americans Lopez Lomonand Leonel Manzano also failed to advance while the favourites Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop and Mehdi Baala of France all went through smoothly through.
