Brazil shocks sprint world, win 4x100m beating US and GBR

The United States fielded four sub-10 second runners, including world champion Justin Gatlin, and Britain had three members of their World Championship-winning relay team; but it was Brazil that rocked the sprint world by winning the gold medal in the 4x100m finals as the IAAF World Relays 2019 ended with fitting drama at Yokohama, Japan yesterday.

None of Brazil’s relay quartet – Rodrigo do Nascimento, Jorge Vides, Derick Silva and Paulo de Oliveira – had clocked sub-10 seconds in the 100m sprint, yet they managed to hold off the strong US and Great Britain teams to clock a world class 38.05 seconds and win their first-ever relay gold medal in the last event of the two-day meet.

Six teams were disqualified during the day to increase the disqualification count to 15 within two days, while three teams failed to finish the races.

Poland humbles US sprint stars

The Women’s 4x400m relay is an event which has been dominated by the United States’ teams for decades, but Poland ended their reign with a dazzling last leg dash by anchor Justyna Święty-Ersetic after Anna Kiełbasińska beat her American rival in the third leg to be the first to pass the baton.

Defending world champions Trinidad and Tobago once again sealed the gold medal in the Men’s 4x400m relay, beating the United States as once again the man who made the difference in 2017 in the third leg, Machel Cedenio anchored them in the final stretch to cross the line first. The USA finished second, but was later disqualified for lane infringement.

Jamaican baton mess up

Jamaica fielded a star-studded Women’s 4x200m relay squad with two time Olympic and nine time World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, defending Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson and World Champions Stephenie Ann McPherson and Sheric Jackson. They were far superior to all challengers, but defeated themselves with a disastrous baton exchange; yet despite messing up their hopes for an emphatic win they were still able to recover and finish fourth, later being elevated to third place when the US team was disqualified for line infringement. The French team stunned the rest of the best by sweeping to victory and the gold medal from the outside lane while China, who earlier fluffed their baton change in the 4x100m relay, got it correct and won the silver medal.

The newly introduced 4x400m B finals provided some extra excitement, as the first two finishers of these races are awarded berths at the World Championships later this year. Italy and France sealed the spots in the Men’s final while in the Women’s event the strong German team, who led the field until the last stretch, finished a disappointing third after a disastrous baton pass.

Japanese runner Kirara Shiraishi made a heroic effort in the 4x200m heat, limping several metres following injury to pass the baton to the next runner as Japan finished the race in fifth place despite losing their competitive edge. However, their brave effort was rewarded when the disqualification of France and Jamaica saw them advance to the finals.

The United States made up for their lost opportunities with gold medals in the 4x400m Mixed Relay, the Men’s 4x200m relay and the Women’s 4x100m relay, finishing at the top in the medals tally again with five gold medals in the championship, while Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, France and Poland bagged a gold medal each. The USA also topped the points tally with 54 points, Jamaica coming second with 27 points and Japan placing third despite earning 27 points as well. Jamaica, one of the strongest relay nations in world athletics over the last decade, failed to win a single gold medal at the meet.

Disqualified Teams – Day 02
Men’s 4x200m Heat: France, Jamaica
Men’s 4x400m – USA
Women’s 4x200m – USA
Men’s 4x200m – Bahamas, Nigeria

Teams failing to finish – Day 02
Men’s 4x200m Heat – Brazil
Women’s 4x200m – Kenya
Men’s 4x100m – Italy

Results

Men’s 4x100m: 1. Brazil 38.05 sec, 2. United States 38.07 sec, 3. Great Britain 38.15 sec

Men’s 4x200m: 1. USA 1:20.12 sec, 2. South Africa 1:20.42 sec, 3. Germany 1:21.26 sec

Men’s 4x400m: 1. Trinidad and Tobago 3:00.81 sec, 2. Jamaica 3:01.57 sec, 3. Belgium 03:02.70 sec

Mixed 4x400m: 1. USA 3:16.43 sec, 2. Canada 3:18.15 sec, 3. Kenya 3:19.43 sec

Women’s 4x100m: 1. USA 43.27 sec, 2. Jamaica 43.29 sec, 3. Germany 43.68 sec

Women’s 4x200m: 1. France 1:32.16 sec, 2. China 1:32.76 sec, 3. Jamaica 1:33.21 sec

Women’s 4x400m: 1. Poland 3:27.49 sec, 2. USA 3:27.65 sec, 3. Italy 3:27.74 sec