BEIJING, China – Team Jamaica confirmed its claim to be the world’s sprinting kings and queens, as they stormed to double 4x100m relay victories on the penultimate day of World Championships action in the Chinese city, tonight (Aug 29).
The females were first to show off their feminine beauty, eye-catching, hairstyles and all, when in running order, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Natasha Morrison, both 100m finalists, furlong silver miss, Elaine Thompson and the empress, herself, Shellyann Fraser-Pryce, they did it for the black, gold and green. Their 41.07 – a championship record and the world’s second fastest time ever – assured the win and world champion title.
The line-up brought together as the two best curve runners, VCB and Thompson, arguably 1-2 off the bend in the 200m here, were requested to do what they did best, earlier in the proceedings. The USA came in second in a season best, 41.68 and Trinidad & Tobago took a most satisfying bronze in a national record, 42.03.
In the male equivalent, there was no stopping the gold medal progress for the Jamaican power, when Nesta Carter, denied his authentic flat 100m lane by the ineptitude of his Federation, went after his revenge, ‘’cutting the throat” of the Briton on his right, handing over to Asafa Powell, who took on a fleet-footed Justin Gatlin. It was no speed left in the storeroom for the two, but passing to Tyson Gray by the double sprint silver medallist was a shade ahead of that to Jamaica's Nickel Ashmeade from Powell.
Ashmeade did well on the bend but so did Gay to the extent that USA was well ahead on the handover to the diminutive, head-banded, Mike Rogers. Rogers, under severe pressure from the Bolt reputation, saved himself some embarrassment of being belittled in the straightaway, by fouling the pass, ending in massive deficit on the run off.
Bolt was gone and eventually dipped at 37.36, a world 2015 best. Antigua and Barbuda (38.61) made the 7th spot with the USA eventually disqualified, courtesy of that last handoff, where it was adjudged that Rogers received the baton outside the box. Interestingly the home team, China, with the USA DQ, ended with the silver with their 38.01 time.
In early sprint relay exchanges, Jamaica had earned a lane in the women’s final, winning heat 1 with a 41.84 world lead and the Soca ladies 2nd in heat 2 at a national record, 42.24 advanced, as well. The Land of the Reggae Boyz did likewise in the male event, with 37.41 season best and so did Antigua & Barbuda, 38.01 national record for 4th in heat 2.
Jamaican Federic Dacres whose qualifying distance in the Discus Throw of 65.77m, would have given him a bronze medal in this afternoon’s final, only managed 64.22 for 7th place. World Champion is the Pole, Piotr Malachowski with 67.40m.
With USA’s superman, Ashton Eaton taking the repeat world championships title in a world best ever 9045 points, Grenada’s Kurt Felix resumed his most creditable 8th place with a national record, 8302 points. He finished a strength-sapping effort with a 789 pointer in the Javelin Throw and 4:32.57 for 728 points in the 1500 metres.
The final curtain will be drawn close on the ninth day on Sunday with action in the 4x400m relays. The women will feature Jamaica only as a Caribbean team and Trinidad & Tobago has joined them to contest the men’s race.
