PERFECT 10
EUGENE, Oregon — Jamaica ended the 18th World Athletics Championships with back-to-back silver medals in the 4x400m relays at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday.
While the women were expected to get a medal, the men surprised with a sterling run for silver — the first medal of the championships won by Jamaican men.
The men, who clocked a season’s best 2:58.58 minutes, battled from third to take over second place on the third leg run by national champion Jevaughn Powell, while Christopher Taylor held off the fast-charging Kevin Borlee on anchor for the Belgian team. Akeem Bloomfield and Nathon Allen had earlier given the Jamaican team a solid start.
The United States won in 2:56.17 while Belgium were third in 2:58.72.
In the women’s 4x400m race, Jamaica’s Candice McLeod, hurdles specialist Janieve Russell, Stephenie McPherson and Charokee Young ran 3:20.74 minutes to finish behind the USA, who fell short of breaking their own world record in winning with 3:17.79. Great Britain were third in 3:22.64.
Jamaica picked up three medals on the final day as new national record holder Britany Anderson took the silver medal in the 100m hurdles.
The Caribbean island ended with 10 medals and were third on the medals table, behind the United States, who bagged 33 total medals. Ethiopia also had 10 medals but with four gold they took second place in the table.
In the points table, calculated based on finalists, Jamaica were second with 110 points, behind the USA’s 328. Ethiopia were third with 106 points and Kenya fourth with 104.