Time to ‘relay’ step up! - Jamaicans look to big names as World Relays climax

YOKOHAMA, Japan:

After a topsy-turvy first day of competition, Jamaica will look to their proven stars – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson – to bring some spark to their 2019 IAAF World Relays campaign.

The two-time 100m Olympic champion and the reigning Olympic sprint double champion are set to blaze the track at the Yokohama International Stadium in the 4x200m along with their training partners, Shericka Jackson and Stephenie-Ann McPherson.

The team, which will be running out of Lane Five, should threaten their championships record of 1:29.04, which was set two years ago, and could even challenge the world record of 1:27.46 set by the USA 19 years ago.

“I expect the women’s 4x200m to do outstandingly well,” said Donald Quarrie, technical leader for the team.

The race is scheduled to run at 6:09 a.m., and the Jamaicans are hoping it will add life to an insipid start to the relay carnival after yesterday’s mixed bag on the opening day.

Though the Americans finished ahead of them in the preliminary round, the men’s mile relay team still believe that they can become the first Jamaican male team in the event to win a global title since Arthur Wint, Leslie Laing, Herb McKenley, and George Rhoden won gold at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

The team of Akeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Demish Gaye, and with Rusheen McDonald likely to replace Jovan Francis, is the fastest mile quartet on paper for Jamaica.

“We are happy that we got an automatic qualification, and tomorrow (today) is another day, and once we are in the final, anything is possible,” Bloomfield told The Sunday Gleaner after the preliminary round.

SOLID SECOND LEG

Bloomfield ran a solid second leg as the Jamaicans clocked 3:02.67 in their heat to finish behind the Americans for the fourth fastest time going into this morning’s final.

The race is set to go off at 5:37 a.m., approximately 18 minutes after the women’s 4x400m team face the starter.

Chrisann Gordon, Shiann Salmon, Chistine Day, and Tiffany James are hoping for more favourable conditions after struggling to adjust to the dipping temperatures in the preliminary round yesterday.

The Jamaicans posted 3:28.80, following Canada, 3:28.75, to the line, with Salmon afterwards pointing to the chilly conditions as a factor in their performance.

“I am guessing that it must have been the weather because I felt a bit cold out there, but hopefully, I will feel better for the finals,” Salmon said.

It is believed that changes will be made to the women’s sprint relay team after their unconvincing qualification to today’s final set for 6:37 a.m.

Jamaica, 43.08, which comprised Sherone Simpson, Natasha Morrison, Shashalee Forbes, and Jonielle Smith, who actually dragged the team back into an automatic spot, could only manage second behind Germany, 43.03, in their heat.

“We are looking to make some changes, so I am hoping that we will do better in the final,” said Sherone Simpson, who ran the lead-off leg for the Jamaicans.

Their male counterparts also struggled in their heat, qualifying as one of the fastest losers. But the likes of Nesta Carter, Julian Forte, Tyquendo Tracey, and Rasheed Dwyer cannot be ruled out of the medals as all of them have run under 10 or 20 seconds in the 100 and 200 metres already.

They will, however, need to show more than they did yesterday, with their 38.51 seconds third-place finish in their heat failing to inspire much confidence.

Andrew Riley suffered a hamstring injury, and his would-be replacement, Norman Pittersgill, had a quad issue in warm-up, forcing the Jamaicans to withdraw from yesterday’s Mixed Shuttle Hurdles relay final after they had earlier advanced with the second fastest time – 55.47 seconds, courtesy of Riley, Ronald Levy, Megan Tapper, and Amoi Brown.