British relay teams get hitech boost for the World Championships
The United States dominated the 4x100m relay since the very first edition of the IAAF World Championships in 1983 in Helsinki. With victories in the first four editions of the Championships, the USA looked unbeatable, until Canada stepped in to spoil the party and take World Championship gold in the event in 1995 and 1997.
But now, with one of the strongest national line-ups in recent years, the Great Britain 4x100m relay team is looking forward to ending the North American domination of this event in Seville on 29 August.
The British selection will be able to count on two sub-10 second performers in Dwain Chambers and Jason Gardener, backed up by Darren Campbell (best this season of 10.14 and a wind-assisted 10.11) and, most probably, Julian Golding, best known as a 200 metre specialist (20.20 season’s best) and bronze medallist in the 4x100m in Athens in 1997.
Will they be able to beat the likely American selection of Maurice Greene (9.79), Dennis Mitchell (9.97), Brian Lewis, Tim Montgomery and/or Tim Harden?
Will Canada be able to repeat its victories in 1995 and 1997 (admittedly, the U.S. team might have fared better in Athens, but for dropping the baton during the heats), with star performer Donovan Bailey way off record-breaking form and Bruny Surin the only real performer of note at the moment?
Could Ghana surprise them all, with both Eric Nkansah and Leonard Myles-Mills running around the 10-second mark?
Technology supplier to the UK National Lottery, GTECH UK Ltd, seem to think that the Britons have what it takes and are putting everything on their side by sponsoring all of the UK relay teams for a total of £300,000 (approx. $450,000), for the forthcoming World Championships in Seville and next year’s Olympic Games in Sydney.
