In a shocking turn of events, perennial relay powerhouse Jamaica was eliminated in the semifinal round of the men’s 4×100 metres relay at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
The quartet of 100m silver medalist Kishane Thompson, Jehlani Gordon, Ackeem Blake and Jelani Walker finished fourth in Heat 2 in a season’s best 38.45 seconds, to miss out on a spot in the final by .06 of a second.
The Jamaicans suffered from two poor baton changes on the last two handovers, and despite Thompson’s efforts to make up the ground on the final leg he fell just short.
China won the heat in 38.24 seconds, with France second in 38.34 and Canada third in 34.39 seconds.
Favourites, the United States of America, romped to victory in Heat 1 in 37.47 seconds, well ahead of South Africa (37.94) and Great Britain (38.04), who finished second and third respectively to advance to the final.
Jamaica’s female team of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes, and Tia Clayton fared better than their male counterparts, finishing third in Heat 2 in 42.35 to automatically qualify for the final of the women’s 4×100 metres relay as sixth fastest.
Trinidad and Tobago’s team of Akilah Lewis, Sole Frederick, Sanaa Frederick, and Leah Bertrand did not advance after finishing eighth in the same heat in 43.99 seconds.
That heat was won by Great Britain in 42.03, with France second in 42.13 seconds.
USA’s women were also dominant in Heat 1, winning comfortably in 41.94 seconds, relegating Germany (41.25) and Switzerland (42.38) to second and third respectively.
Elsewhere, it was a tough morning for Caribbean athletes.
Jamaicans Lloydricia Cameron (18.02 metres) and Danniel Thomas-D0dd (18.12 metres), along with Trinidad and Tobago’s Portious Warren (17.22 metres), all failed to advance past the qualifying rounds of the women’s shot put.
Emelia Chatfield of Haiti and Denisha Cartwright of The Bahamas, also did not qualify from the women’s 100 metre hurdles Repechage round, posting times of 13.24 and 13.45 respectively.
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