Jamaican women revel in 4X100 gold
BEIJING, China — Jamaica’s females turned in an awesome display to sweep to gold in the 4×100 metres, lowering their own championship record of 41.07 seconds.
The exploit put Jamaica into second place in the medals count after winning both sprint relays.
With the Usain Bolt-led 4x100m relay quartet having won the night’s cap in fine style in 37.36, Jamaica completed the sprint relay double, taking their gold-medal tally to six and 11 medals overall.
Kenya lead the table with 13 medals, inclusive of six gold, four silver and three bronze. The Americans are third with five gold, five silver and six bronze for 16 medals overall.
But in the points tally, USA are on top with 196 points ahead of Kenya with 122 and Jamaica third on 119. Germany are fourth with 97 points.
The powerful quartet of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Natasha Morrison, Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce totally destroyed their fierce American rivals, and was just .25 seconds outside the Americans’ world record of 40.82 seconds. The USA quartet of English Gardner, Allyson Felix, Jenna Prandini and Jasmine Todd ran a season’s best of 41.68 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce, who was capturing her second gold of the championship, said Jamaica have a solid team and was confident of victory.
“It was all about arranging the team in the right way… we did wonderful and I don’t think we could have asked for anything else and I am really excited we got the gold,” said Fraser-Pryce.
Jamaica decided to use 200m bronze medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown to start the race and brought in the 200m silver medallist Elaine Thompson on the third leg. Natasha Morrison held her second-leg spot from the semi-final as did Fraser-Pryce on anchor, who was full of praise for her team members.
“Well Elaine ran 21.6, Natasha 10.9 to make the final, so I don’t think there was any doubt that they would come in and deliver, and we are really excited,” said Fraser-Pryce.
“I feel good. We ran 41.07 — a championship record; it was wonderful that we came out here as a team and delivered and we are excited,” she reiterated.
Fresh from her brilliant run in the 200m, Campbell-Brown gave Jamaica a flying start before Morrison gave Allyson Felix more than she could handle on the backstretch; and by the time the baton was passed to Thompson, the race was as good as over.
All Fraser-Pryce had to do was carry home the baton, and hopefully the world record.
“It (world record) didn’t happen, but next time. We are satisfied with what we got tonight. The ladies are tired and we came out and got a championship record.”
Campbell-Brown, the co-captain of the team, revealed that it was not the first time she was starting a relay team for Jamaica.
“It went OK. The thing was just to come out here and get the baton around. Anybody can run any leg because we are all experienced runners. This was the second time tonight (yesterday), and it worked and we won and we are grateful,” Campbell-Brown said.
“The future of Jamaican sprinting is very strong… we have so many great talent in Jamaica and we continue to cultivate and develop talent, so I am excited about Jamaica’s future,” she ended.