NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Yohan Blake clocked nearly nine seconds flat as Jamaica produced a clinical performance to win the marquee men’s 4×100 metres relay at the IAAF World Relays here Sunday night.
The Olympic 100 and 200 metres silver medallist was timed at 9.07 using a running start, and his fireworks propelled Jamaica across the line in 37.77 seconds at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.
Trinidad and Tobago snatched second place with a time of 38.04 seconds ahead of Great Britain who were third in 38.19.
Still pumped from shattering a 20-year-old World record in the 4x200m on Saturday, the Jamaicans once again snatched the headlines with superb showing in front an excited full house.
Nesta Carter gave them a smooth start before Nickel Ashmeade carved out a lead on the second let before handing over to Julian Forte. With a healthy cushion on the final leg, Blake produced devastating speed down the stretch to complete an excellent outing for the Jamaicans.
Team GB seemed to have silver covered until Richard Thompson streaked past Dwain Chambers to pull off an upset.
Jamaica had earlier captured their heat to easily to qualify, thanks to a brilliant last leg from Andrew Fisher while Great Britain collared T&T to also qualify by winning their heat.
There was massive disappointment for the United States, however, as they along with hosts the Bahamas, were disqualified for passing the baton outside the zone.
Jamaica’s women could not match the success of their men in the 4x400m relay, finishing second to the Americans who clocked three minutes, 21.73 seconds.
The Jamaicans were timed at 3:23.26, with Nigeria third in 3:23.41.
Jamaica trailed the US on the first leg but Novlene Williams-Mills chased down Sanya Richards-Ross to close the gap on the second leg, to give the two foes near parity at the half-way stage.
However, Natasha Hastings out-ran Anastasia Le-Roy on the third leg and her counterpart Joanna Atkins took the baton with a 10-metre lead and quickly formalised the result for the US.
In a thrilling men’s 4×400 metres, Trinidad and Tobago set a new national record of two minutes, 58.34 seconds in finishing third, as the United States with World champion LaShawn Merritt on anchor, took top honours.
In a race that saw the lead exchange hands several times, Merritt produced a burst in the last ten metres to get past the Bahamas and steal victory in a time of 2:57.25.
The hosts, who benefitted from a brilliant third leg from Chris Brown who clocked 44.20, crossed the line in 2:57.59 with Michael Mathieu on anchor.
Overall, the United States finished with 60 points to claim the Golden Baton, while Jamaica was second on 41 points and Kenya third on 35.
