by Larry EderThe IAAF has a winner in the World Relays. And, the Bahamas was the perfect place to hold the meet. My only suggestion is about the Men’s 4×400 meter relay. It should be the ending event for these Relays as Bahamas vs. USA vs. Jamaica (baton fall), vs. Trinidad & Tobago vs. Great Britain) was highlight event. If former GB meet director Sir Ian Stewart were here, he would not that, if you want to keep the stands full for the duration of the event, then, close with the big one!
USA beats Bahamas in 4×4
NASSAU (BAH, May 25): New event proved to be a sucess with 3 world records and world leads in all 10 events. 13 countries got medals with USA the best 5-2-1 ahead of Kenya 3-1-0 and Jamaica 2-2-1. Golden baton for the best team given by president Lamine Diack to USA. Second edition will be held in May 2015 again in Nassau.
Event by event
Men
4×100 m: Jamaica wins in 37.77 (Carter-Ashmeade-Forte-Blake) but was not faster than in heats 37.71 WL (KBC and Fisher instead of Ashmeade and Blake). Trinidad with fast Thompson second 38.04 and third Britain 38.19, with EL 37.93 in heats (Talbot was running instead of Chambers).
4×400 m: World champ Merritt prevailed in 43.8 split and 2:57.25 WL win (15th fastest ever time) for USA (Verburg 44.8, McQuay 44.1, Taylor 44.6). Revenge for London 2012. Second Bahamas very brave 2:57.59, their 3rd fastest ever (without Miller but Williams 45.0, Pinder 43.8, Brown 44.2 and Mathieu 44.6) and third Trinidad and Tobago 2:58.34 NR (Gordon 44.3, Quow 44.6, Cedenio 44.5, Solomon 44.9). Fourth Britain European lead 2014 3:00.32.
4×1500 m: Kenya shattered their WR from Van Damme 2009 from 14:36.23 to 14.22.22 thanks to Cheboi 3:38.5, S. Kiplagat 3:32.4, Magut 3:39.0 and Kiprop 3:32.3. USA held in continental mark 14:40.80 over Ethiopia 14:41.22 NR (Manzano over fast closing Wote). Spain best European team as 5th 15:00.69.
Women
4×200 m: USA won all women events of the second day, here after best exchanges clearly in 1:29.45 (Solomon, Meadows, Knight, Duncan). Second surprise Britain (Henry, Onuora, B. Williams, Philip) 1:29.61 NR and only third Jamaica with anchor SAFP (before her Facey, Brooks, McLaughlin) 1:30.04.
4×400 m: USA clocked World lead 3:21.73 after Trotter 50.5, Sanya 50.3, Hastings 50.1 and Atkins 50.8. Second Jamaica needed two more better runners (best legs by Spencer and Novlene Williams-Mills) 3:23.26 just ahead of Nigeria 3:23.41 and France 3:25.84 European lead.
4×800 m: USA was in better shape with 8:01.58 win (Price 2:01.0, Lara 2:02.8, Wilson 1:59.1, Martinez 1:58.6) clearly over Kenya which started with Jeruto 2:03.8, Chesebe 2:01.7 followed by two World champs Jepkosgei 2:03.4 and Sum 1:59.2 with 8:04.28 African record and Russia second wave 8:08.19. For the winners 14th fastest ever and fastest since 1993.
