Parisian Blues

PARIS, France:

JAMAICA’S PARIS Olympic campaign ended in frustration and disappointment yesterday at the Stade de France, with no additions to the six medals the country had accumulated headed into the competition’s final day.

That frustration was highlighted by the women’s 4x400-metre relay final where the Jamaican team of Stacey-Ann Williams, Andrenette Knight, Shiann Salmon and Stephenie-Ann McPherson did not finish.

Williams, who came in to replace Ashley Williams from the first round heat ran a brilliant opening leg, handing over to Knight in a good position. Knight, in negotiating the final bend of her leg, had the baton dislodged by another runner. Salmon, the other addition, and McPherson could only watch as Jamaica’s last chance to add a medal faded. The United States won in 3:15.27 minutes with the Netherlands second in 3:19.50 and Great Britain third in 3:19.72, both in national records.

It was far from the ending that McPherson, who is at her final Olympics, had in mind.

“We all came out here to do the best we can. Things happen we can’t do anything about,” McPherson said.

McPherson said that based on the replays she saw, the baton was knocked out of Knight’s hand by Ireland on that second leg.

“I had to watch the replay three times before I knew what happened. The other team hit the baton from our athlete’s hand.”

“At about 120 metres to go, she was being overtaken by the Irish athlete and the Irish athlete hit it from her hand. That’s what I saw from where I was standing,” said Salmon.

Already without a men’s 4x400-metres team, Jamaica finishes the games with no medals in relays. For Salmon, the disappointment was intense because they felt they were more than capable of getting on the podium

“This was, in our opinion, based on the belief system that we had. We were not supposed to miss this podium. The times that came second and third were well within reach. But things happen that we have no control over sometimes,” Salmon said.

The US men won the men’s 4x400m title in an Olympic record 2:54.43. Botswana was second in 2:54.53, while Great Britain was third in 2:55.83.

National champion and record holder Ackera Nugent did not finish in the women’s 100m hurdles final after clipping the first hurdle, then hitting another midway before losing her stride completely. America’s Masai Russell, the fastest women in the world this year, claimed the title in 12.33 seconds. France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela got silver in 12.34 for the country’s first athletics medal of the Games. Former Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho Quinn, was third in 12.36.

Nugent said that while she got an excellent start, she could not control the momentum to sustain her throughout the race. However, she takes solace in how far she has come. Nugent was competing in her first Olympic Games and her second major global championship.

“There is a lot to take away from the race. But at the same time, I am grateful because at the end of the day I was able to show up today. If it was the grace of the Lord it would have happened. And my time is not yet. So I have to give God the glory as he continues to work through me,” said Nugent.

Romaine Beckford finished 10th in the men’s high jump final with 2.24 metres his best clearance. He wasn’t able to go over his personal best, 2.27 metres. Beckford was Jamaica’s first representative in the Olympic final of a men’s high jump since 1956 and produced the best-ever finish for the island. Beckford believes that while it may not have been a great Olympics for everyone in Jamaica, what it has shown is Jamaica’s improvement in the field.

“This Olympics may not have been the best for everybody but it does show the quality of athletes that we got in the field and I feel it’s like a new star in the sky,” Beckford said.

Jamaica’s six medals include one gold, three silver and two bronze, with only two of those coming on the track.