IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015 – Day 1

by RENALDO DORSETT

A new world record, baton exchange mishaps and a major upset highlighted day one at the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas.

The United States leads the charge for the golden baton with 24 points, followed by Jamaica in second place with 14.

Trenier Moser (1200m), Sanya Richards-Ross (400m), Ajee Wilson (800m) and Shannon Rowbury (1,600m) finished in 10:36.50s to break the world record of 10:48.38 that was set in 1988.

They earned $50,000 for the gold medal and an additional $50,000 for setting a new world record.

The biggest shock of the race came in the men’s 4x100m when the United States – Mike Rodgers, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey ran 37.38s.

Jamaica finished second in a season’s best time  of 37.68s and Japan came through for third in their season’s best of 38.20s after Trinidad and Tobago suffered an injury and failed to finish.

It was extreme disappointment for the Bahamas in the women’s 4x200m

The team of Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, Anthonique Strachan, Brianne Bethel and Shaunae Miller finished the race second in behind Nigeria, who crossed the finish line in a world leading time of 1:30.52.

However, on the exchange between Strachan and Bethel, the Bahamas was disqualified for running out of the exchange zone.

Jamaica moved up to claim the silver in 1:31.73 and Germany captured the bronze in a season’s best of 1:33.61.

In the heats, thew Golden Knights were able to eaqily qualify for today’s final when they took heat one in 3:02.18s.

They did it with the team of Michael Mathieu, Demetrius Pinder, Alonzo Russell and Ramon Miller.

It was the second fastest qualifying time behind Trinidad & Tobago, who had a season’s best of 3:02.09 to win their heat.

“It’s still early in the season, so we need more rounds,” Miller said. “But we haven’t ran our A team, so we will see what happens tomorrow.”

The men’s 4x100m relay team finished in eight place in the B final in a time of 39.56s.

Deneko Brown, Blake Bartlett, Javan Martin and Alfred Higgs ran a season’s best of 39.32, in the heats for for sixth place and 14th overall.

In their heat of the women’s 4 x 400, the team of Brianca Farrington, Shaquania Dorsett, Katrina Seymour and Christine Amertil clocked a season’s best of 3:33.60 for fifth in their heat and 13th overall as they too fell out of contention for the final.

The women will come back on Sunday to run in the B final.

American men also took first place in the men’s 4x800m final.

Duane Solomon, Erik Sowinski, Casanir Loxsom and Robby Andrews ran a championship time of 7:04.84s.

Poland got the silver in a season’s best of 7:09.98 and the bronze went to Australia in the season’s best of 7:16.30 after Kenya got disqualified.

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