Things did not go according to plan for Team Bahamas’ mixed 4×400 meters (m) relay team at the BTC World Athletics Relays today as they were not able to qualify for the final round and an automatic qualification for the Paris Olympics later this summer.
The team of Alonzo Russell, Shaunae Miller, Steven Gardiner and Shania Adderley placed fourth in the first heat of that event after crossing the finish line in a season’s best time of 3:14.86 at home at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
That time was enough to give the team another shot at qualifying for the Olympics in the second Olympic Qualifying Round tomorrow after they finished with the 12th fastest time.
“Things did not play out like how we wanted to but in all things give thanks,” Gardiner who ran the third leg said. “We had a 16-year-old (Adderley) running today and she ran with the pros. She did her best and we are proud of her for stepping up and taking on that toll today.”
Winning that heat was the Netherlands in a time of 3:12.16 to automatically qualify for the Olympics. The Dominican Republic also automatically qualified for the Olympics after placing second with a time of 3:14.39.
Also keeping their Olympics hope alive was the women’s 4x100m team which featured Devynne Charlton, Camille Rutherford, Charisma Taylor and Printassia Johnson. The quartet was featured in the the fourth heat to clock a season’s best time of 43.17 seconds to place fourth in that heat. They had the 15th fastest time overall.
“It was a great experience and it was great to run with these great and fast girls,” Taylor said. “It is a blessing to be here and we cannot wait to go again tomorrow.”
Winning that heat was Great Britain with a time of 42.33 seconds for the automatic spot in the Paris Olympics.
The Netherlands was second after running 42.88 seconds for the automatic spot at the Paris Olympics.
The men’s 4x100m team of Samson Colebrooke, Samalie Farrington, Carlos Brown and Ian Kerr finished sixth in heat one after clocking a season’s best time of 39.27 seconds. They finished 24th overall and will return tomorrow for another chance at securing a spot for the Paris Olympics.
“It is always a different experience performing here at home,” Kerr said. “To run that time out of lane one – they do not want to see us run in a better lane tomorrow.”
Winning that heat was the United States of America with an automatic qualifying Olympic time of 37.49 seconds. Italy placed second after stopping the clock at 38.14 seconds to automatically qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The final team in action for Team Bahamas was the men’s 4x400m team of Wendell Miller, Russell, Zion Shepherd and Shakeem Hall-Smith. They finished sixth in their heat in a time of 3:07.45. They were 24th overall and will look to improve on their performance tomorrow.
“It was tough but I had to go out there and give it my all,” Russell said after running his second race of the night. “This race is my bread and butter and it is how I came around. I just wanted to do my best.”
Italy won that heat in a time of 3:01.68 to automatically qualifying. Placing second was Great Britain in 3:02.10 to get the second automatic qualifying spot.
In the second round of qualification, the top two teams from each heat will also qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
Action gets underway at 7.05 p.m. The pre-game show gets underway at 4 p.m.