http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/22/day-14-olympics-relay.htmlJamaica sets world record in 4x100 relay
Asafa Powell heads home to give Jamaica the win in the men's sprint relay Jamaica set a new world record in the men's 4x100 sprint relay late in Day 14 at the Beijing Olympics.
Asafa Powell ran a sizzling anchor leg to put Jamaica across the finish line in 37.10 seconds.
Nesta Carter led off, followed by Michael Frater and Usain Bolt. It was the first Olympic gold medal in the event for Jamaica."I said to Asafa, 'Can we do this?' And he was like, 'Don't worry, man, we got this one."' Bolt said.
Bolt, who set world records in winning the 100 and 200, will leave Beijing with three gold medals. Powell will get gold after finishing a disappointing fifth in the 100 final.
"I pushed myself to help Usain and his quest for three gold medals," Powell said.
Trinidad and Tobago, featuring 100 silver medallist Richard Thompson and Marc Burns, captured silver in the relay in 38.06 seconds. Japan won bronze in 38.15 seconds.
"We simply couldn't compete," said Burns.
Canada was sixth in 38.66 seconds. The Canadian team is made up of Toronto's Pierre Browne, Hank Palmer of Pierrefonds, Que., Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I.
"I think overall our exchanges were tight — a little bit too tight and a little bit too close, and we didn't get any ground through the [exchange] zones and we needed that," Henry told CBC Sports.
The team improved on their semifinal time, which was 38.77. Brazil and Germany finished ahead of the Canadians
"We were just a little bit conservative," said Connaughton. "[A time of] 38.66 in any other given day is a pretty good time, but not in an Olympic final, so we got some work to do, but this team will be back."
Jamaica won silver at last year's world championsips — without Bolt — behind the United States. The Americans crashed out in the semifinals, with the baton dropped between Darvis Patton and Tyson Gay.
It is the first time since 1912 that the U.S. men's relay team did not advance to the Olympic final.
Nigeria and Great Britain, too, went from strong medal contenders to out in the semifinals due to a disqualification.
Jamaica has won six gold and 10 medals overall in Beijing. They also have teams entered Saturday in the gold medal finals for the men's and women's 4x400 relays.
4 comments:
I'm glad that Bolt has done so well! There's a guy who has a bright future in my opinion.
Patrick
Yeah that was fantastic, I am glad that Ben Johnsons somewhat equivocal record has been exceeded and I applaud that.
I am no distance runner, never could have been, my metabolic set up ain't geared for it because I am pretty much an anaerobic athlete (so far as I could even be an athlete now)
When I was young and fit, I was not into competition, but if I had been I could have out sprinted any boy in my school. Even now as a belated swimmer with severely limited capacity, I can't swim distance, I only know one stroke, but I can do speed.
Laurentius....what are you talking about? Ben Johnson was born in Jamaica. His athletic career was wholey and soley as a Canadien Citizen. There is no correlation, thank you....no need.
Stefhany
Go Jamaica........
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