BARBADOS WERE NON-STARTERS in the “B” final of the men’s 4×100 metres during last night’s final session of the first IAAF World Relay Championships in The Bahamas.
The team of Andrew Hinds, Shane Brathwaite, Levi Cadogan and Ramon Gittens had all done their warmups, but with several runners experiencing pain and soreness, a decision was made to withdraw. Ackeem Forde ran in the heats.
Coach Alwyn Babb said with the team not having any medical support, it was the right decision to make “in the best interest of the athletes”, as it is “a very long season”.
In the heats, Barbados had clocked 39.27 seconds, finishing sixth. The unlikely winners of the “B” final were Ukraine in a national record 38.53. Cuba were second in 38.60, China third in 38.83 and St Kitts and Nevis fourth in 39.07.
Jamaica went on to win the final in a meet record 37.77. Anchor Richard Thompson took Trinidad and Tobago to silver in 38.04 with a blistering run, overtaking Britain’s (38.19) Dwayne Chambers.
The United States were comfortable winners of the women’s 4×200 in a record 1 minute 29.45 seconds. Great Britain were second in a national record 1:29.61, a result they would be very pleased with, after a late decision to contest this event.
Even with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on anchor, Jamaica could do no better than third, but they did set a national record 1:30.04. The Bahamas also set a national record 1:31.31 for fourth, but Trinidad and Tobago did not finish.
In other results, Australia won the “B” final of the women’s 4x400m in 3:31.01. The Bahamas were second in 3:31.71, Canada third in 3:32.58 and Trinidad and Tobago fourth in 3:33.21.
USA won the final in 3:21.73. Jamaica were second in 3:23.36 and Nigeria third in 3:23.41.
Kenya set the third world record of the meet in the men’s 4×1 500M in 14 minutes 22.22 seconds. The United States were second in an area record 14:40.80 and Ethiopia set a national record of 14:41.22.
Kenya might have been expecting to sweep the middle distance relays and challenge for the Golden Baton as the top team, but they were upset by the USA in the women’s 4×800. The United States did a world-leading 8:01.58 seconds. Kenya were second in 8:04.28 and Russia third in 8:08.19.
Jamaica set a new national record of 8:17.22 to place fifth, but again, Trinidad and Tobago did not finish.
With three Borlee brothers in the lineup – Dylan and twin brothers Kevin and Jonathan – Belgium won the men’s 4x400m “B” final in 3:02.97. Japan were second in 3:03.24 and Dominican Republic third in 3:03.41.
The Bahamas were hoping their champion Olympic 4×400 metres quartet could give them a rare gold medal performance at home, but Ramon Miller picked up an injury and had to be replaced. Even with a blistering 44.20-third leg from evergreen Chris Brown, they could not get it done.
World leader and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt overtook Michael Mathieu, crossing the finish in a meet record 2:57.25.
The Trinidad and Tobago quartet of Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Jarrin Solomon won a second bronze medal in a national record 2:58.34. Jamaica were disqualified after dropping the baton.
The United Stated won the Golden Baton for top team with 60 points.
Golden Baton standings
1. United States 60 points
2. Jamaica 41
3. Kenya 35
4. Great Britain & Northern Ireland 24
5. Australia 21
6. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 19
7. France 18
8. Bahamas 15
9. Poland 14
10. Nigeria 13
11. Brazil 10
12. Spain 8
13. Saint Kitts and Nevis 7
14. Romania 7
15. Russia/Ethiopia 6
17. Barbados 5
18. Germany 5
19. Japan/Cuba/Switzerland/Mexico 4
23. Italy/Canada/Venezuela 3
26. Bermuda/Qatar/People’s Republic of China 2
29. Slovak Republic 1
