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OregonGoldRush | Jamaica’s 4x400-metre men grab brilliant silver

Published:Sunday | July 24, 2022 | 10:27 PM
Jamaica's Christopher Taylor (right) is tracked by Belgium's Kevin Borlée on the final leg of their 4x400-metre relay on day ten of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Jamaica's Christopher Taylor (right) is tracked by Belgium's Kevin Borlée on the final leg of their 4x400-metre relay on day ten of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Jamaica’s 4x400-metre men made it nine medals for the island after copping a brilliant silver on the final day of competition at the World Athletics Championships inside the Hayward Field stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

The team of Akeem Bloomfield, Nathon Allen, Jevaughn Powell and Christopher Taylor clocked two minutes, 58.58 seconds (2:56.58) to finish behind the United States’ 2:56.

Belgium were third in 2:58.72.

Bloomfield gave Jamaica a good start, finishing his leg in 45.86 seconds, the third quickest opening split.

Jamaica would remain third despite a fast 43.95 from Nathon Allen, but the team had been keeping in touch with Trinidad and Tobago, who were second at that point.

T&T would end fifth in 3:00.03.

The 43.82 third lap from Jevaughn Powell put the Jamaicans in second and Christopher Taylor ran a brilliant 43.98 to end.

Taylor, pushing hard to stay ahead of Belgium’s Kevin Borlée, might not have been strong enough down the final 100 metres, but was tactically aware enough to slide into lane two when Borlée made his move.

The action forced Borlée to duck back onto Taylor’s inside, giving the wiley 4x400-metre runner, just enough breathing room to come home in the silver medal position.

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