Americans humble Jamaicans

After winning the 100m and 200m, the Jamaicans were installed heavy favorites in the relays in the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon. The fastest women in the globe Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah looked invincible and were expected to breeze to another gold but the Americans did’nt want to suffer more humiliations, losing in their “house”. So when the smoke cleared in the women’s 4x100m relay, the US quartet of Melissa Jefferson, Jenna Prandini, Twanisha Terry and Abby Steiner upset the Jamaicans 41.14 to 41.18. Then in the 4x400m relay, Sydney McLauglin, world 400m record-holder, anchored the US team, also bannered by Abby Steiner, Talitha Diggs and Britton Wilson, to a golden finish in 3.17.79. The Jamaicans, composed of Candice McLeod, Janice Russel, Stephanie McPherson and Charokee Young, clocked 3.20.74 to settle for second while Great Britain was third in 3.22.64. The men’s team completed wins against the Jamaicans when it triumphed in the 4x400m relay, registering 2.56.17. Jamaica came in second in 2.58.58 while Belgium won the bronze in 2.58.72. The Americans were led by Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon, Champion Allison and Elija Goodwin. In the 4x100m Canada got a spark from six-time Olympian Andre De Grasse to win the event in 37.48. He was supported by Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney. The US Team of Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, Elijah Haul and Marvin Bracy wound up third in 37.83. Jamaica was a dismal fourth in 38.06.

UGANDANS RULE 10,000M

Not to be outdone, Ugandans Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo placed their country in the medal tally of the just-concluded World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon. Cheptegei clocked 27.27.43 to rule the 10,000m race while Kiplimo pocketed third in 27:27:97.Kenya’s Stanley Mbuku prevented a 1-2 finish for the Ugandans when he came in second in 27:27:97. Grant Fisher of the US was fourth in 27:28:14 while Selemon Bariga of Ethiopia settled for fifth in 27:28:27. Mohamed Ahmed of Canada wound up sixth in 27:30:27.

ILOILO SWEEPS TOLEDO

Powerhouse Iloilo Kisela Knights were just too much for the Toledo Trojans, as they slammed the latter in two matches in the Wesley So Cup Online Tournament. Led by grandmasters Hovhannes Gabuztan and Joey Antonio, the Knights subdued the Trojans 12.5-8.5 in the first match, then repeated in the second match 11.5-9.5. Toledo is bannered by Chinese GM Xu Yi, IM Rico Mascarinas , NM Merben Roque, Rommel Ganzon, Allan Pason, Richard Natividad and skipper Rainauld Tibod. Again, Iloilo played the spoilers after eliminating Toledo during the inaugural season last year of the semis of the AllFilipino Conference of PCAP.