Brazil stun US in 4x100m at World Relays
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN: Paulo Andre Camilo de Oliveira powered Brazil to victory in the men’s 4x100m event at the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday as they finished ahead of a strong United States quartet and world champions Britain.
Brazil clocked 38.05 seconds, 0.02 seconds ahead of US, who had Justin Gatlin in their ranks, in what was the smallest ever margin of victory in the competition.
Two hundredths of a second also separated the top two teams in the women’s 4x100m event, with the U.S. edging out Jamaica to qualify for the World Championships in Doha later this year. The US men went slower in the 4x200m final than they did in the heats earlier on Sunday, but still proved too good for their rivals to finish first in one minute and 20.12 secs at theyokohama International Stadium.
Poor baton exchanges cost premeeting favourites US and Jamaica in the women’s 4x200m, allowing France to claim victory in one minute and 32.16 seconds with China finishing second while setting an Asian record of 1:32.76.
Machel Cedenio helped Trinidad and Tobago win the men’s 4x400m event in 3:00.81 seconds, narrowly in front of the US who were later disqualified. Jamaica were elevated to second.
European champion Justyna Swiety-ersetic steered Poland to a surprise win in the women’s race ahead of the US, who missed the chance to make it four wins in the 4x400m event in as many editions of the World Relays.
The team of My’lik Kerley, Joanna Atkins, Jasmine Blocker and Dontavius Wright gave the U.S. victory in the mixed 4x400m race, finishing ahead of Canada and Kenya.
The US finished on top of the overall standings with 54 points. Jamaica were behind them with 27, the same as Japan.
SETBACK FOR THE AMERICAN STARS
American joy at finishing top of the medals table with five golds will be tempered by the disappointment of losing their proud unbeaten record in the 4x400 metres after electrifying performances from Poland and Trinidad and Tobago.
Team USA had dominated the event at the three previous editions of the World Relays but they werestunnedbypoland’swomen as Justyna Swiety-ersetic anchored the European champions to an upset win in three minutes, 27.49 seconds.
The Americans bagged silver in 3:27.65 with Italy taking bronze. “We can’t believe it,” said Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz. “It was such an amazing feeling to actually hit the line first.”
Lightning struck again in the men’s 4x400m final when Cedenio produced an astonishing last 100 metres to give world champions Trinidad and Tobago gold in a photo finish with Paul Dedewo. Cedenio ran a 44.41 split to give his team victory in a world-leading 3:00.81 seconds -- three hundredths ahead of the Americans.