RYAN Bailey of the US celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Jamaica’s Usain Bolt to win the 4x100m race for the Americans at the IAAF World Relays Championships.—Reuters

NASSAU (Bahamas): Not even Usain Bolt could overcome a big American lead as the US team, led by Justin Gatlin and anchored by Ryan Bailey, won the 4x100 relay, sprinted to a convincing victory over Jamaica in the 4x100m relay at the IAAF World Relays meet on Saturday.

Mike Rodgers, Gatlin and Tyson Gay — all of whom have served doping bans ranging from nine months to four years— powered the Americans to a five-metre advantage through three legs of the highly anticipated race and Bailey brought the team home in 37.38 seconds.

Bolt, who had missed last year’s inaugural World Relays, made up ground on Bailey in their anchor leg at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium but could not close the gap as Jamaica, running their 2013 world championship team, finished second in 37.68.

The Americans’ time equalled the seventh-fastest ever over the distance as all eight teams in the final, including third-placed Japan, earned automatic qualifying spots for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“The US came out well prepared, they matched their national record,” said Bolt. “It makes it more exciting going into the world championships [in Beijing in August]. We’re not in the best shape as a team, and personally I know I’m not in the best form that I can be.”

Gatlin said he was delighted to have got “to the finals and we did a great job”.

“I’m always going to feel like I’m the person to beat. I want to set the bar for myself higher and higher,” said the sprinter who topped both 100 and 200m standings in 2014. “The only pressures is on myself. I’m not worried about what the next man’s doing, I’m not worried about Usain.”

The victory highlighted a sparkling night for US athletes, who also set a world record in the women’s distance medley and took top honours in the men’s 4x800m relay.

Shannon Rowbury anchored the US women home in 10 minutes, 36.50 seconds in the medley with strong support from Treniere Moser, Sanya Richards-Ross and Ajee Wilson.

The legs are 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600. Kenya initially placed second, but were later disqualified for “changing team composition and running order”, Poland upgraded to silver, with Australia claiming bronze in a race in which only five nations competed.

Robby Andrews led the US men to a championship record 7:04.84 in the 4x800 with Poland second and Australia third.

Misfortune struck the Americans in the other final, the women’s 4x200, when Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix collided. Nigeria claimed the victory in 1:30.52 with Jamaica second after the Bahamas were disqualified.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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