Can Jamaica reclaim 4x100 World Champs title?

ONE OF, if not the biggest upsets at last year’s World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, came in the Women’s 4x100 metres relay where the United States upstaged overwhelming favourites, Jamaica.

Fast-forward one year and Jamaica will be aiming to avenge that defeat in Budapest, Hungary.

After a one-two-three finish in the 100 metres final (Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, gold, Shericka Jackson, silver, and Elaine Thompson Herah, bronze), many thought it was just a mere formality for Jamaica to win relay gold, with their only challenge, the world record of 40.82 seconds set by a United States quartet at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

On paper, the Jamaica team was much stronger than their main rivals in the United States, especially with Aleia Hobbs, who finished sixth in the individual final, not on the relay team, and Melissa Jefferson, who finished eighth, the only finalist in their quartet.

FIRST EXCHANGE

However, an average handoff on the first exchange between Kemba Nelson and Thompson Herah, who had to slow down dramatically to avoid taking the baton outside of the exchange zone, opened the way for the United States, who took the early lead and maintained that with smooth changes throughout.

Despite a gallant effort from Jackson on the anchor leg, Twaneisha Terry held on to give the Americans victory in 41.14 seconds, just ahead of Jamaica, second in 41.18.

This time around, it will be a new-look US team, led by Sha’Carri Richardson, who won the 100 metres at their National Trials. Brittany Brown, second, Tamari Davis, third, and Tamara Clarke, fourth, make the relay pool with Jefferson and Terry who were part of the winning team in Eugene, facing the possibility of being alternates.

Jamaica will return with Jackson and Fraser-Pryce in their line-up with Sashalee Forbes, second at the Trials, Natasha Morrison, third, Briana Williams and Thompson Herah, who were fourth and fifth, available for relay duty.

Natalliah Whyte, who was third in the 200 metres and is a very good relay runner, could also be in the mix.

Key to the equation will also be who runs which leg, as many thought that Jackson on the second leg would have been a better choice, based on her form at the time.

The strongest runner is sometimes used on the second leg because the distance that person covers is longest even though the legs are supposed to be 100 metres each.

It will also be interesting to see which two join Fraser-Pryce and Jackson in the relay final. However, any of the six would be considered a stronger unit than the US contingent and should start favourites again.