by Larry EderOur roving Irish correspondent, Cathal Dennehy, who came down to the Relays at the very last moment, surely got his money’s worth tonight! A World Record in the DMR, a huge upset in the 4×200 meters, three US wins (DMR, 4×800 and 4×100 meters) were some of the highlights.
It started with a victory for the Bahamas and, to look at last night’s World Relays through a wider lens, that’s exactly what this event has turned out to be for the delightfully friendly hosts. The first evening’s action here in Nassau was wild, wonderful, but more than anything else, it was loud.
Just after 7pm, the so-called ‘golden knights’ – Bahamas’ Olympic-gold-medal-winning 4x400m team – took to the track for the heats, and got the event under way in the perfect manner, taking a narrow victory ahead of Brazil in 3:02.18.
When the quartet was introduced, the noise that rang around the Thomas A. Robinson stadium was thunderous, 15,000 locals giving their heroes a gracious, admiring welcome. For the next three minutes, the atmosphere alternated between very loud and deafening. As Ramon Miller held off Brazil’s Hugo de Sousa over the final 100m, it was no less than a scream – an ear-covering, 15,000-strong shriek of joy. It was, to use an overused word, simply awesome.
Undoubtedly the most awesome performance, though, came in the men’s 4x100m event, albeit a run that came from a team which included three athletes who have previously served doping suspensions. Of the American quartet of Michael Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey, only Bailey has a clean record throughout his career.
Whatever about their past, though, there could be no doubting their brilliance last night as they stormed to victory in a championship record of 37.38 seconds, well clear of Jamaica, who ran 37.68.
“It’s time for us to show a rivalry, that’s what the excitement of sport is about, and we brought that tonight,” said Gatlin.
Bolt, while disappointed, wasn’t unduly worried about the loss. “Their athletes were in better shape, and that showed,” said Bolt. “We need more races, but there’s three months to the world championships, so we have lots of time.”
There was misfortune for the Americans in the women’s 4x200m, the exchange, or lack thereof, from Jeneba Tarmoh to Allyson Felix ending their race with 200m to run. In their absence, Nigeria took a surprise win over Jamaica, 1:30.52 to 1:31.73.
In the women’s distance medley relay, the first world record of the weekend was broken – the United States sauntering to an easy win in 10:36.50, carving six seconds off the World Indoor previous best, which was held by Team New Balance . (Editor’s note: The world record that was broken in the distance medley was the indoor 10:42.57 that the New Balance team ran in Boston. Villanova had the best outdoor time of 10:48.38)
This, perhaps, was the only race of the night where the atmosphere actually quietened, the Bahamian locals switching off for the largely uncompetitive, mostly middle-distance event. It was quiet, I should say, apart from the hundred or so Bahamian drummers, dancers and horn-players who were situated around the first turn. Never did they cease drumming, never did they cease dancing – their spirit, colour and boundless energy lending a carnival atmosphere to the night.
“It was so much fun,” said Sanya Richards-Ross, who ran the 400m leg. “I’ve always watched these ladies compete and today, to be able to warm up with them, set a world record with them, it was something truly exciting.
Ajee Wilson, who ran the 800m leg, kept her eyes averted from the clock and found it a useful strategy. “I ran by feel,” she said. “On the last lap I was putting in all the effort and trying to give Shannon [Rowbury] as big of a lead as possible.”
Rowbury duly maintained the lead for the American quartet and was blown away by the experience of the event. “Coming out on the track with fireworks, finishing with fireworks, having your team come out on the field to hug you after the finish – this is incredible.”
The United States were also victorious in the men’s 4x800m, their quartet of Duane Solomon, Erik Sowinski, Casimir Loxsom and Robbie Andrews taking a decisive victory in 7:04.84, thanks in large part to the dominant second leg from Sowinski, who stormed clear of Kenya’s Nicolas Kipkoech over the final 200m. “I let my Kenyan rival do the work for the first 500m, then I just felt really good so I took off,” said Sowinski.
Kenya, who finished second in the race, was subsequently disqualified for a rule infraction after re-arranging their running order.
All in all, it proved a memorable night’s action on the track. Though for this writer, the atmosphere in the stadium – the noise that 15,000 wild and wonderful Bahamians created -that will remain unforgettable.
