byLarry Eder
Yohan Blake to Usain Bolt, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, final, photo by PhotoRun.net
The men’s 4 x 100m gave us the only
World Record of the meet, and it was in the last event. Jamaica, with
Yohan Blake in third leg and Usain in fourth leg, ran 37.04! Afterwards,
Usain congratulated his team mates and enjoyed the crowd.
Bolt gets baton, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, final, photo by PhotoRun.net
The US
4 x 100m team had a mishap, ironically with Great Britain, the team
that protested on them in 2009 and had them DQed. Three major champs in a
row and US relay team had trouble.
Bolt takes off, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, final, photo by PhotoRun.net
However, as one observer told
me, if you are going to complain about the 4 x 100m team, then also
note that the Men’s shot put and Men’s 400m hurdles, which were truly
surprises…
Here is Elliott Denman’s thoughts on the men’s 4 x 100m relay:
By ELLIOTT DENMAN
What drama. What thrills. What chills. What timing.
Bolt blazes, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, final, photo by PhotoRun.netJust as the curtain was coming down on the 13th World
Championships of Track and Field – 47 events, 24 for men, 23 for women,
spread over nine days and eight nights – the meet delivered its best and
its worst, all within a matter of seconds Sunday night at Daegu
Stadium.
Championships of Track and Field – 47 events, 24 for men, 23 for women,
spread over nine days and eight nights – the meet delivered its best and
its worst, all within a matter of seconds Sunday night at Daegu
Stadium.
Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, gold medalist, WR, photo by PhotoRun.net It took 37.04 seconds for the Jamaica quartet of Nesta Carter,
Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and the one, the only Usain Bolt – to
demolish the wold record for the 4×100, erasing the 37.10 mark set by
Jamaica at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, And 37.04 was the one and only
world record of the whole meet.
Michael Frater, Yohan Blake and the one, the only Usain Bolt – to
demolish the wold record for the 4×100, erasing the 37.10 mark set by
Jamaica at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, And 37.04 was the one and only
world record of the whole meet.
Think that was fast? It took even less time, about 28
seconds, for Team USA’s medal hopes to come crashing down to earth, as
an American sprint relay quartet failed to finish at a third consecutive
major Games. There were baton-exchange disasters at the Berlin Worlds
of 2009 and the Beijing Olympics of 2008…and now this one.
seconds, for Team USA’s medal hopes to come crashing down to earth, as
an American sprint relay quartet failed to finish at a third consecutive
major Games. There were baton-exchange disasters at the Berlin Worlds
of 2009 and the Beijing Olympics of 2008…and now this one.
For sure, they will be checking the films of this race for a
long-long time before getting the real story, the whole story of how it
transpired.
long-long time before getting the real story, the whole story of how it
transpired.
Trel Kimmons and Justin Gatlin ran the first two 100s for USA and
kept America’s Team in play with a clean baton exchange. And Gatlin got
the stick to third man Darvis “Doc” Patton within challenging room of
Jamaica. But, with Britain running in lane three and USA in lane four –
both, it seemed, on the edge of their designated lanes, it turned into a
collision course.
kept America’s Team in play with a clean baton exchange. And Gatlin got
the stick to third man Darvis “Doc” Patton within challenging room of
Jamaica. But, with Britain running in lane three and USA in lane four –
both, it seemed, on the edge of their designated lanes, it turned into a
collision course.
Likeliest scenario was that Britain number three man Marlon
Devonish, readying to pass off to Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, somehow caught
a piece of Patton. Or that it was Harry A.A. getting to Patton.
Devonish, readying to pass off to Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, somehow caught
a piece of Patton. Or that it was Harry A.A. getting to Patton.
Whatever it was, Patton, attempting to pass off to anchorman
Wallter Dix, appeared to be hit from behind and then tripped. He
stumbled and went down and sprawled on the track. injured.
Wallter Dix, appeared to be hit from behind and then tripped. He
stumbled and went down and sprawled on the track. injured.
The baton never did get to USA anchor Dix, who took off for a few
strides and then stopped short, his vision of challenging Usain Bolt
over and done.
strides and then stopped short, his vision of challenging Usain Bolt
over and done.
And so, as Bolt was jetting home in world record time, France was
claiming the silver medals in 38.20 and completely overlooked St. Kitts
and Nevis earning silvers in 38.49. The British team failed to finish,
too, leaving just Poland (38.50), Italy (38.96) and Trinidad and Tobago
(39.01) to cross the line.
claiming the silver medals in 38.20 and completely overlooked St. Kitts
and Nevis earning silvers in 38.49. The British team failed to finish,
too, leaving just Poland (38.50), Italy (38.96) and Trinidad and Tobago
(39.01) to cross the line.
How’s this for consolation? Team USA still ran the second
fastest 4×100 at the World Championships. Trouble was the 37.79 notched
by Trel Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Maurice Mitchell and Travis Padgett
came in the semifinals. It lasted about two hours as the fastest in the
world for 2011 – until Bolt & Co. ran 37.04. Mitchell and Padgett
would be replaced by Patton and Dix in the final.
fastest 4×100 at the World Championships. Trouble was the 37.79 notched
by Trel Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Maurice Mitchell and Travis Padgett
came in the semifinals. It lasted about two hours as the fastest in the
world for 2011 – until Bolt & Co. ran 37.04. Mitchell and Padgett
would be replaced by Patton and Dix in the final.
“This wasn’t just about me,” said Bolt. “This was four guys
running their race, Those other three are pretty fast guys, too, you
know. I saw how hard the first three had worked to get us in that
position. So I ran my leg pretty hard, too.
running their race, Those other three are pretty fast guys, too, you
know. I saw how hard the first three had worked to get us in that
position. So I ran my leg pretty hard, too.
“Then I looked at the time we ran, and I was pretty happy.”
He did his little dance of delight as a packed stadium shared his big moment.
Team USA was still searching for explanations.
Justin Gatlin to Maurice Mitchell, 2011 WC 4 x 100m qualifying round, photo by PhotoRun.netSaid Gatlin, ““we had good exchanges all year,
we wanted to show the world that we’re a good relay team. It’s really
bittersweet because we came together as a team to show the world that we
can get the stick around and be cohesive.
we wanted to show the world that we’re a good relay team. It’s really
bittersweet because we came together as a team to show the world that we
can get the stick around and be cohesive.
” We had great stick passing in the prelims.
Going into the fourth leg in the finals we had great sticking passing. I
thought we had the world ready for an American record and we were
definitely in medal contention.”
Going into the fourth leg in the finals we had great sticking passing. I
thought we had the world ready for an American record and we were
definitely in medal contention.”
And then it all came apart.
As USA relay coach Jon Drummond put it,
“I don’t really know what happened, but that is track and field.
“I’m not disappointed…because Doc Patton got tripped.
” I
mean, if he had fallen on his own, then that would be disappointing.
The reality is he got hit and he got tripped and his shoulder is
dislocated. I got a chance to review the film, not as intense as I would
like to, but from based on everything that I’ve seen and everyone
basically expressed to me, Great Britain basically committed an
infraction.”
mean, if he had fallen on his own, then that would be disappointing.
The reality is he got hit and he got tripped and his shoulder is
dislocated. I got a chance to review the film, not as intense as I would
like to, but from based on everything that I’ve seen and everyone
basically expressed to me, Great Britain basically committed an
infraction.”
But that’s life in the fast lane of World Championship finals, where there are no re-runs.
Justlin Gatlin tries to console Doc Patton, Walter Dix speaking to Doc, 2011 WC 4 x 100m, photo by PhotoRun.net
