Davian Clarke praises national men’s 4x400m team
Relay hero Davian Clarke has showered praise on Jamaica’s silver medal men’s 4x400m relay team from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last week. Clarke, an expert coach himself, says Jamaica got the team selection right.
With 2019 World 400 finalists Akeem Bloomfield and Nathon Allen handling the first two legs, 2022 national leader Jevaughn Powell, and Eugene 400m finalist Christopher Taylor the last two, Jamaica finished in the runner-up spot in 2:58.58 minutes.
“The coaching staff got it right,” Clarke said. “I think these were the exact people that needed to run. I thought if they made it to the finals, it would be great, and they went there and performed above and beyond. I didn’t think they were going to get second, but they went out there, they qualified well, and then they seized the moment and that’s all you want.”
Speaking of Powell, Clarke, who coaches him at the University of Texas El Paso, said, “It’s his first World Championships, so all you want is an opportunity. He got the opportunity, then he showcased his talent. They were confident enough to put him back on the team and then you know, he went out there, he held his position very well and kept the team in medal contention and that’s all you want to do. You just want to take care of your leg, and once you take care of your leg, the overall team will be successful.”
Powell’s run brought back memories for Clarke.
“I think back about my first team in 1995, we went out there and won the silver medal,” he recalled. “So I’m very happy that in his first World Championships, he was able to gain the experience and get a medal which, you know, even more validates where he is and what the future holds for him.”
Bloomfield, Allen, Powell and Taylor ran split times of 45.86, 43.95 44.79, and 43.98 seconds, respectively, to secure the only medal won by Jamaica’s men in Eugene.
Clarke also praised Taylor. “He made it to the final in the Olympics and backed it up again by making it to the World Championship final, so he’s right on track,” Clarke said. “There are a lot of expectations for me, so people expect more, but he’s still young. The more opportunities he gets, he’ll get that opportunity where he can seize the moment and medal.”
Allen came into the relay with concerns about a leg injury that stopped him early in his 400m semifinal. Clarke says it was the right choice.
“If he says he’s ready, they have to take him at his word that he’s ready and he went out there and proved that he’s still capable of performing,” he said.