Logo

News20 Jul 2002


Women 4 x 100 metres Relay

FacebookTwitterEmail

Women 4 x 100 metres Relay Final

Team USA, who had been the fastest qualifiers yesterday, were running in lane 5 as the Jamaican quartet was running in lane 4.

Anneisha McLaughlin – a silver medallist in the 200m final – didn’t run the heats but lined up as the third leg of tonight’s final. And it was she who made the difference and handed the baton to Simone Facey with a massive 5-metre clearance. Facey held on to the line under a thunder of applause, which carried on for ten minutes after the end of the race, and clocked a new championships record and national record of 43.40.

Jamaica’s Shimone Simpson false started evidently under a lot of pressure. Her second start was good enough but USA’s Lauryn Williams who ensured the first leg was a lot faster. She neatly handed the baton in first with Jamaica slightly behind. Kerron Stewart – fourth in the 100m – ran an excellent back straight but was still trailing behind the US quartet. The baton was handed with some difficulty to McLaughlin who, once she got going looked like a fury. Not only did she catch the Americans but she led them trailing behind. As she handed the baton to Simone Facey for the last leg, it was clear that the Jamaican were going to win their second gold of the championships.

Jamaica’s 43.40 is the second fastest ever ran by a junior 4x100m relay. Only the United States in 1999 had ran faster in 43.38.

Overshadowed by the USA Vs Jamaica battle, Vernicha James of Great Britain powered to the finish and grabbed bronze in 44.22.

Pages related to this article
DisciplinesCompetitions
Loading...