USA GET RELAY RESPITE
Rival blamed for baton drop
RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States’ women’s 4x100m relay team were givien a chance to qualify for the Olympic final after winning the right to re-run their heat.
The US quartet was facing a sensational disqualification after a dropped baton changeover involving Allyson Felix and English Gardner.
However USA Track and Field appealed after it emerged a Brazilian runner had bumped Felix as she approached for the changeover.
After studying footage of the incident, the race referee agreed and handed the Americans a reprieve.
But in a bizarre twist, the US team were required to race against the clock from the same lane with no other teams taking part.
“The referee examined the video of the race and agreed that the US runner was obstructed at the second exchange,” a statement said.
The heat was won by Germany’s quartet in 42.18sec ahead of Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil.
In the other semifinal, Jamaica stormed to victory in 41.79.
The Jamaican women – including heavyweight veterans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – were pushed all the way by Britain, who finished in 41.93.
Jamaica’s newly crowned 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson sat out the heat but will return for the final.
“We are putting things together well but we’ll have to change a few things for the final,” CampbellBrown said. “There will be some changes that you will see tomorrow, Elaine will definitely be on.”
Jamaica’s men, meanwhile, kept Usain Bolt’s quest for his “triple triple” gold medal haul on track yesterday by qualifying for the final of the 4x100m relay.
The quartet of Jevaughn Minzie, Asafa Powell, Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole clocked 37.94 in finishing second behind Japan, who won in an Asian record of 37.68.
Bolt, rested for the qualifier, can join American Frank Wykoff (1928, 1932 and 1936) as the only athlete to win three gold medals in the men’s 4x100m relay.
Jamaica will face a stiff challenge from the Americans.
With Justin Gatlin rested, Mike Rodgers, Christian Coleman, Tyson Gay and long jumper Jarrion Lawson won in 37.65. The Americans have not won a major championship since the 2007 worlds in Osaka. –