by Larry Eder
Women’s 4x100m: It was all about Spain’s NR of 42.18 EL to defeat Jamaica in the second heat! The US won their heat in 42.86, anchored by Twanisha Terry!
After her anchor leg, Twanisha Terry told the media: “Coming in here, I told myself just to trust each other. We need to get in there. WHITE: I think it’s showing that we’re very versatile, we have a lot of women to run the relay. BRISCO: Our job was to get the stick around today. We did it pretty well. We’re just going back and looking at the film and seeing what we can improve for tomorrow. We did our job and got the big Q.”
Women’s 4x400m: The US ran the leader, 3:26.05, as Spain again showed that it has fine sprinters from 100-400m, taking second heat in 3:36.25. GB surprised many, failing to advance. Jamaica finished “dead last”, probably the worst performance by a Jamaican team in decades.
Karimah Davis told the media: “We stayed focused, executed for what we have been trained well, and it went well. LEAR: Just watching the boys before us gave us great momentum, and we are doing it for our country and teammates. Pressure transforms into pure joy and makes us sharper. SINGLETARY: We should always get ready for whatever the weather is like.”
Men’s 4x100m: South Africa and Japan have WLs of 37.84, with the US clocking 37.86! Heck, I am just happy that the USA got the baton around. Kenny Bednarek looked excellent in the second heat.
Kyree King, third leg for the US, told the media: “We weren’t too focused on the time. It’s a decent time tomorrow, but we were coming here to execute. We wanted to finish the job, have clean exchanges, and get through the next round. We walk into the stadium knowing we are the favorites and must execute our job. That’s what we have to do. No matter the favorites or who the underdog is, you have to come out here and do your job.”
Men’s 4x400m: South Africa has the top time in heat one, in 3:00.00, just in front of China (3:01.87NR). Botswana took heat 2 in 3:01.23, over Portugal (3:01.78 NR), Belgium won heat 3 in 3:01.35EL, France won heat 4 in 3:00.30, while the USA did not advance, due to time , 3:02.23!
This surprised the hell out of me. How does the US men’s team not make the final? I do not understand how the USA, which just swept the 400 meters at World Indoors, can not find four male 400m relay runners to run 3:00 flat or better. Truthfully, most men in the 400m in the US do not want to be in shape now, with Tokyo in September.
Portugal sets a national record and makes the World Champs finals for the very first time! China’s men had earlier done that, with a NR that made the fans in Guangzhou loose their minds! China’s Men’s 4×4 had NEVER made a World Champs final!
Mixed 4x100m: The first two legs are women, and the final two are men. Canada impressed with 40.90, just in front of Jamaica, which won heat 2 in 41.04. GB was second in their heat, 41.05; Italy won heat 1 in 41.15. The USA had a baton nightmare and did not move on in the Mixed 4x100m. Remember, Mixed 4x100m is in the Olympics in 2028.
Mixed 4x400m: US runs and wins in WL of 3:11.37. Belgium runs EL in 3:11.83, and Australia sets an Oceanic record of 3:11.37.
Johnny Blockburger, who opened USA’s mixed 4x400m: “It feels good. Just getting to know each other. It’s our first relay together, just learning each other’s speed and paces is nice.” The USA anchor, Lynna Irby-Jackson told the media: “It’s always an honor to be able to make it to Team USA, it’s something none of us take for granted and we’re happy to get more wins.”
