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World Relays hailed a success as records tumble to Jamaica and Kenya World Relays hailed a success as records tumble to Jamaica and Kenya
(3 months later)
Lord Coe described the opening night of the inaugural IAAF World Relays as an “evolutionary step” for athletics, with two world records broken in the Bahamas and an atmosphere that evoked memories of London 2012.Lord Coe described the opening night of the inaugural IAAF World Relays as an “evolutionary step” for athletics, with two world records broken in the Bahamas and an atmosphere that evoked memories of London 2012.
Coe, the IAAF vice-president, was in attendance at Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson stadium as Jamaica’s 4x200m men’s team broke a world record that had stood for 20 years, after Kenya’s women smashed the 4x1500m mark by more than 30 seconds earlier in the evening.Coe, the IAAF vice-president, was in attendance at Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson stadium as Jamaica’s 4x200m men’s team broke a world record that had stood for 20 years, after Kenya’s women smashed the 4x1500m mark by more than 30 seconds earlier in the evening.
Yohan Blake surged down the home straight following earlier legs by Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir and Jermaine Brown as Jamaica clocked 1:18.63 in the 4x200m to beat the previous record set by USA in 1994 by five hundredths of a second.Yohan Blake surged down the home straight following earlier legs by Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir and Jermaine Brown as Jamaica clocked 1:18.63 in the 4x200m to beat the previous record set by USA in 1994 by five hundredths of a second.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with the home crowd vociferously supporting any effort from the Bahamas, whose men won their 4x400m heat amid a cacophony of noise.The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with the home crowd vociferously supporting any effort from the Bahamas, whose men won their 4x400m heat amid a cacophony of noise.
Coe said the atmosphere reminded him of that inside the Olympic Stadium during the gold-medal winning performances of Mo Farah and David Weir during London 2012, and said future meetings should be taken to countries where there is a real passion for athletics.Coe said the atmosphere reminded him of that inside the Olympic Stadium during the gold-medal winning performances of Mo Farah and David Weir during London 2012, and said future meetings should be taken to countries where there is a real passion for athletics.
“I think we recognise now that for the sport to prosper we’ve got to take it to places where there is a real tradition for something,” said Coe. “If you’ve got bedrock interest in a discipline then just go with the grain and I think this has been a really good evolutionary step.“I think we recognise now that for the sport to prosper we’ve got to take it to places where there is a real tradition for something,” said Coe. “If you’ve got bedrock interest in a discipline then just go with the grain and I think this has been a really good evolutionary step.
“It reminded me of Mo hitting the front, and David Weir, it was really very noisy and they get relays. I think the prime minister [of the Bahamas] made it quite clear he’s hoping this comes back again in two year’s time. You almost certainly need to grow it in areas that are really, really fruitful and I think it was a really good start.”“It reminded me of Mo hitting the front, and David Weir, it was really very noisy and they get relays. I think the prime minister [of the Bahamas] made it quite clear he’s hoping this comes back again in two year’s time. You almost certainly need to grow it in areas that are really, really fruitful and I think it was a really good start.”
The Bahamas will also host the World Relays in 2015 and the event has attracted more than 40 teams to compete in 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1500m races. More than 500 athletes are vying for a collective purse of $1.4m [£830,000] and the top eight teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m disciplines will qualify for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.The Bahamas will also host the World Relays in 2015 and the event has attracted more than 40 teams to compete in 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1500m races. More than 500 athletes are vying for a collective purse of $1.4m [£830,000] and the top eight teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m disciplines will qualify for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
Great Britain’s 4x100m women finished fifth in their final. The team of Asha Philip, Anyika Onuora, Jodie Williams, and Desiree Henry had performed well to clock a steady time of 43.20sec to qualify as heat winners. Bianca Williams then replaced Onuora for the final, in which they ran 42.75secs but were hampered in the search for a medal by some poor baton exchanges. Great Britain’s 4x100m women finished fifth in their final. The team of Asha Philip, Anyika Onuora, Jodie Williams, and Desiree Henry had performed well to clock a steady time of 43.20sec to qualify as heat winners. Bianca Williams then replaced Onuora for the final, in which they ran 42.75secs but were hampered in the search for a medal by some poor baton exchanges.
Philip said: “That was a decent time that we ran, a season’s best, and obviously making it to the final means we’re going to the World Championships next year, so it’s a good start for us. We’ve all had PBs this year so I’m proud of all the girls.Philip said: “That was a decent time that we ran, a season’s best, and obviously making it to the final means we’re going to the World Championships next year, so it’s a good start for us. We’ve all had PBs this year so I’m proud of all the girls.
“Obviously, everyone always likes to win a medal but it’s the first time we’ve ever run together and we got the baton round, so that’s the main thing. We’re all running so well and this is only the start for us.”“Obviously, everyone always likes to win a medal but it’s the first time we’ve ever run together and we got the baton round, so that’s the main thing. We’re all running so well and this is only the start for us.”
Britain’s 4x400m men won their heat in 3:00.74, Martyn Rooney beginning the final leg a couple of paces back but making up the ground with ease to finish comfortably. Christine Ohurougu was not selected in the 4x400m women’s heat, although she was expected to feature in the lineup in Sunday’s final after Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Emily Diamond – in her debut senior run – and Margaret Adeoye secured qualification.Britain’s 4x400m men won their heat in 3:00.74, Martyn Rooney beginning the final leg a couple of paces back but making up the ground with ease to finish comfortably. Christine Ohurougu was not selected in the 4x400m women’s heat, although she was expected to feature in the lineup in Sunday’s final after Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Emily Diamond – in her debut senior run – and Margaret Adeoye secured qualification.