by Stuart Weir
Elaine Thompson anchors Jamaica to 4×200 meter victory! photo: Getty Images/IAAF
Stuart Weir has, once again, put the tanning lotion down, alongside his drink with the little umbrella, and visited TommyRobo stadium to provide us with the first day of competition at the 2017 IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas!
Day one of the IAAF/BTC World Relays
Day one of the IAAF/BTC World Relays in the Thomas A Robinson Stadium, known locally as the Tommy Robbo, in Nassau, Bahamas saw three finals and heats of three events in preparation for Sunday’s finals.
Men’s 4 by 100 metres.
Justin Gatlin, 4×100 meters, photo: Getty Images/IAAF
That USA won the Men’s 4 by 100 metres was no surprise but the result is far from telling the whole story. The USA team of LeShon Collins, Mike Rodgers, Ronnie Baker and Justin Gatlin – Marvin Bracy ran in place of Collins in the prelim – finished in 38.43 with Barbados second and the People’s Republic of China third.
In the final, Great Britain were leading off the last bend after a storming second leg by Zharnel Hughes. However Danny Talbot failed to transfer the baton to Ojie Edoburun and GB’s chance was gone. Canada had beaten US in the prelim with Andre de Grasse overtaking Justin Gatlin in the final leg, but they too failed to finish in the final.
Jamaica’s men’s 4 by 100 team, another of the favorites, failed to finish in their prelim. The Bolt-less Jamaicans who have dominated sprint relays in recent years dropped the baton in the prelim. Their race ended prematurely with Kemar Bailey-Cole’s unsuccessful handoff to Jevaughn Minzie saw the baton hit the floor. Teammate Everton Clarke said afterwards: “It was just a misunderstanding. It happens in relays”.
A number of ifs, buts and if onlys but USA take home the gold medal.
Jamaica wins 4×200 meters! photo: Getty Images/IAAF
Women’s 4 by 200
The women’s 4 by 200 was won by won by Jamaica. Jura Levy, Shericka Jackson, Sashalee Forbes and Elaine Thompson got the baton round in 1:29.04 with Germany second and USA third. Elaine Thompson, Olympic 100m and 200m champion, who ran the anchor leg, said afterwards: “We came out and passed the baton round good. There was no pressure. We secured a place in the final day earlier and just came out to do what we do”.
USA wins 4×800 women’s relay, photo: Getty Images/IAAF
Women’s 4 by 800
USA won the rarely run Women’s 4 by 800 for the third time in a row in a time of 8:16.36 with Belarus second and Australia third. The US team of Chanelle Price, Chrishuna Williams, Laura Roesler and Charlene Lipsey were only briefly under pressure when Australia’s Abbey de al Motte, took the lead on the second leg but in the end US won by 3.71 seconds
Triple World Relays champion, Chanelle Price, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of making all three teams that have won here in Bahamas. I knew we had a target on our backs and that other team’s wanted to take our crown from us. We wanted to go out and set the tone for America”.
Round one of men’s and women’s 4 by 400 metres was held with the final today, Sunday.
Finally spare a thought for the two busiest athletes: Patricia George and Ugonna Ndu of Nigeria who are running the 4 by 100, 4 by 200 and 4 by 400 this weekend.
