Report25 May 2014


Report: men's 4x400m heats – Bahamas 2014

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Chris Brown in the 4x400m at the IAAF World Relays (© Getty Images)

In the absence of any decibel counters, possibly the biggest cheer on a raucous night came not when either of the two World records were set but when host nation The Bahamas won the third and final heat of the men’s 4x400m in 3:00.30.

Fielding the four heroes who won the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games – albeit with the quartet running in a different sequence to their formation two summers ago and this time the running order was Demetrius Pinder, Ramon Miller, Chris Brown and Michael Mathieu – the local legends clocked the fastest time of the heats and raised the rafters of the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

However, it should be a fantastic battle for supremacy in the final on Sunday as Great Britain and the USA both impressed in winning their heats in 3:00.74 and 3:01.09 respectively.

Both teams’ victories were notable for their anchor leg runners.

Britain’s Martin Rooney executed a tactically astute come-from-behind run, hitting the front with approximately 230 metres to go after taking over in second place, as surprise package Venezuela also overtook their South American rivals Brazil, who led at the bell.

The USA fielded 2011 IAAF World Championships and London 2012 Olympic Games triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor on the last leg and he showed his versatility by uncorking a 44.9 stint as he battled to hold off Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald.

Phil Minshull for the IAAF

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