Poland upset USA with relay record
BIRMINGHAM: Poland set a world record in the men’s 4x400m relay in a rousing finish to the world indoor athletics at the Arena Birmingham on Sunday.
The Polish quartet set a new mark of 3:01.77, upstaging USA, which had led until the final stretch, with Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry and Aldrich Bailey covering the first three legs in 2:16.33. However, Pole Jakub Krzewina edged past USA anchor Vernon Norwood, pushing his team to silver at 3:01.97s, which too was inside the previous world record. Belgium came third with Trinidad and Tobago fourth.
The roles were reversed in the women’s 4X400m relay final, where USA took gold and Poland silver. A Jamaican appeal against disqualification after they had finished second was rejected. Great Britain were promoted to bronze.
RENAUD SOARS HIGH
In men’s pole vault final, outdoor world record holder and 2012 London Olympics champion Ren- aud Lavillenie of France won his third indoor world title, clearing 5.90m on his second attempt. USA’S Sam Kendricks, last year’s London world champion, failed in his first two attempts at the height and also at 5.95m, settling for silver (5.85m). Poland’s Piotr Lisek, who also could not go beyond that height, was third (5.85m) on a count back.
Andrew Pozzi delivered the second gold for Britain by winning the 60m hurdles. The hosts finished fourth in the medals tally with seven medals. Pozzi clocked a season’s best 7.46s to pip USA’S Jarrett Eaton in a photo-finish. Katarina Johnson-thompson won the other gold in pentathlon.
Pozzi said he was inspired by the words of Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four minute mile, who died on Sunday. “Roger Bannister was an unbelievable athlete and unbelievable person. I’m very sorry that he has left us but I read one of his quotes today about a gazelle before heading down to the track. It said: ‘Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive’.”
SERBIA, BURUNDI WIN
Serbia and Burundi climbed on the medals chart owing to goldmedals by woman long jumper Ivana Spanovic and Francine Niyonsaba. The Serb cleared 6.96m to push USA’S Brittney Reese (6.89m) to silver. Niyonsaba won the women’s 800m. The 2016 Olympic silver medallist clocked 1:58.31s to bring home her nation’s first medal of the championships.
Ethiopia dominated 1500m and 3000m. Yomif Kejelcha retained the longer distance in claiming a one-two with Selemon Barega. Samuel Tefera achieved glory in the 1500m.
The three podium finishes also helped Ethiopia finish second in the medals table with five medals, including four gold. USA were a distant first, finishing with 18 medals — six gold, 10 silver and two bronze. Poland were third.