3 months ago
17
JAMAICA HAD a mixed bag of results on the opening day of the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, with just two of six teams booking spots to the World Athletics Championships on their first attempt.
Jamaica fielded a team in all six races on track at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, yet only the mixed 4x100-metre relay team and the women’s 4x100 team secured qualification on day one.
Jamaica had a close finish in heat two of the mixed relays as the quartet of Natasha Morrison, Krystal Sloley, Javari Thomas, and Rasheed Foster did just enough to hold off a fast-finishing Great Britain team to the line in 41.04 seconds.
Great Britain finished second in 41.05, taking the second automatic spot, while host nation China fell just outside of qualification in 41.30.
In the women’s 4x100, the team of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Tia, and Tina Clayton were second best in their heat but did enough to qualify for the World Championships.
Spain were quicker, crossing the line in a national record 42.18 with Jamaica second in 42.51.
Germany rounded off the top three in 42.98, outside the automatic qualification.
Interestingly, the three teams were the only ones to record a time as Poland and China were both disqualified for race infringements while Liberia did not finish.
There was bitter disappointment in the men’s 4x100m as a dropped baton on the second exchange saw Jamaica out of contention in their heat.
South Africa ran away with the first automatic qualifying spot, crossing the line in a world leading 37.84, with Germany second in 38.33.
Jamaica were far off the pace in the women’s 4x400m, finishing a distant last as the quartet of Jodean Williams, Roneisha McGregor, Kelly-Ann Beckford, and Ronda Whyte posted a pedestrian three minutes, 40.54 (3:40.54).
They were 12 seconds behind leaders South Africa, who posted a national record 3:28.01 seconds to qualify with Germany just behind in 3:28.63.
There was another failed attempt in the men’s 4x400m as well with Jamaica just outside the qualifying mark, finishing fourth in their heat in 3:03.54.
South Africa took the win in a world leading 3:00.00 while China were second in 3:01.87.
Jamaica also missed a chance at qualification to the World Championships in the mixed 4x400m relays with the team finishing sixth in 3:18.83, trailing winners Belgium, 3:11.83, and Australia second in 3:12.34.
The four teams which missed out on qualification will get a second chance at qualification on day two which will close out the World Relays.
Day Two will also bring the final of each event containing all the teams who have qualified from day one.
Jamaica will line up in the final of the mixed 4x100m, where they enter with the second-best time, and the women’s 4x100m, where the story is the same.
Timetable
Mixed 4x100m Final (6:05 a.m.)
Mixed 4x400m Qualifying Round 2 (6:13 a.m.)
Women’s 4x400m Qualifying Round 2 (6:34 a.m.)
Men’s 4x400m Qualifying Round 2 (6:56 a.m.)
Women’s 4x100m Qualifying Round 2 (7:16 a.m.)
Men’s 4x100m Qualifying Round 2 (7:32 a.m.)
Mixed 4x400m Final (8:03 a.m.)
Women’s 4x100m Final (8:16 a.m.)
Men’s 4x100m Final (8:26 a.m.)
Women’s 4x400m Final (8:36 a.m.)
Men’s 4x400m Final (8:49 a.m.)
English (US) ·