World Athletics
Jamaica's women’s 4x400m relay team secured their place in the final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, delivering a season-best time of 3:24.92 in the second of two heats on Friday. The quartet of Andrenette Knight, Ashley Williams, Charokee Young, and the seasoned Stephenie-Ann McPherson ran a strategic and powerful race, finishing first in their heat and ranking fourth overall among the qualifiers.
McPherson anchoring the team in style, ensured a comfortable win in their heat.
However, despite Jamaica’s strong showing, it was the United States that stole the spotlight in the qualifying rounds. The American team, consisting of Quanera Hayes, Shamier Little, Aaliyah Butler, and Kaylyn Brown, stormed to victory in their heat with a blistering season-best time of 3:21.44. Their time was the fastest of the day, making them the team to beat as the finals approach.
The lone Caribbean representative will have their hands full in the final that will also feature formidable opponents in the form of Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Canada.
Meanwhile, in the men’s 4x400m relay, Trinidad and Tobago faced a tough challenge during the heats. Despite a valiant effort, the team—comprising Renny Quow, Jereem Richards, Jaden Marchan, and Shakeem McKay—finished eighth in the first heat with a time of 3:06.73, falling short of qualifying for the finals.
The competition was fierce, and while the Trinidadian team gave their all, it was not enough to advance.
On the other hand, Botswana’s men’s team delivered a stellar performance, clocking the fastest time of the qualifiers at 2:57.76, a season-best. The team, which included Leungo Scotch, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, Anthony Pesela, and Bayapo Ndori, demonstrated exceptional speed and coordination, making them strong contenders for a medal in the finals.
The finals for both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays are shaping up to be highly competitive events, with fans around the world eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Jamaica's quartet suffer mishap in women's 4x400m relay final as USA, Netherlands, Great Britain cop medals
So it was in the beginning, so it is at the end.
Jamaica’s bad luck at the Paris Olympic Games, particularly on the female side, again reared its ugly head as the country’s quartet suffered a mishap in the 4x400m relay final and failed to finish at the Stade de France on Saturday.
With Shanieka Ricketts’ silver medal in the triple jump being the only medal won by a female athlete among Jamaica's six medals tallied ahead of the much-anticipated curtain call relays, the quartet of Stacey-Ann Williams, Andrenette Knight, Shiann Salmon, and Stephanie Ann McPherson would have hoped to end the athletics segment on a high.
However, it was not to be, as Knight, while in second position on the second leg, had the baton knocked from her hand by an Irish athlete, and as the instrument clattered on the track, so did the country’s hopes of a medal.
McPherson shared the team's disappointment.
"I don't know what happened; I watched the replay three times before I realised what happened, but it was like World Relays all over again. So, of course, we are disappointed. We all trained really hard for this," an emotional McPherson said, her eyes filled with tears.
Salmon tried to put on a brave face.
"My face might not be showing it but I am very heartbroken. The aim was to finish on the podium, and I am sure that everybody is disheartened that we didn't even get to finish the race, but sometimes things happen that we have no control over, and we have to just move on from them. The overall (Olympic) experience for me was excellent; I can't complain about it. I got two lifetime bests in this championship, and I thank God I finished healthy, so I am just looking forward to the rest of the season," Salmon shared.
The event was won by the United States with an Area Record of 3:15.27, just shy of the longstanding 3:15.17 World Record. The Netherlands, through a blistering anchor leg from Femke Bol, took second in a National Record of 3:19.50, while Great Britain also clocked a National Record of 3:19.72 for third.
While the disappointment of a majority of Jamaica’s athletes and fans alike will be profound, after the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson suffered injuries ahead of their events and Ackera Nugent clipped a few obstacles, which ruined her chance at a medal in the women's 100m hurdles final, among other misfortunes, the country still had much to celebrate.
Rajindra Campbell won an historic bronze in the men’s shot put; Kishane Thompson copped silver in the men’s 100m; Wayne Pinnock was also a silver medallist in the long jump; and Rasheed Broadbell won bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles.
But the biggest accomplishment of the Games came for discus thrower Roje Stona, who achieved an Olympic record to land Jamaica’s solitary gold medal on his debut at the global multi-sport showpiece.
Jamaica’s Beckford finishes 10th in high jump in Paris; New Zealand’s Kerr wins gold ahead of USA’s McEwen, Bahrain’s Barshim
Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford had a best clearance of 2.22m for 10th in the final of the Men’s high jump at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
The 22-year-old had a first-time clearance at 2.17m before clearing 2.22m on his second attempt.
He then exited the competition after three failures at his season’s and personal best height of 2.27m.
New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr took gold over the USA’s Shelby McEwen after a jump-off.
Both men had identical cards after successful first-time clearances at 2.36m, an Oceania record for Kerr and personal best for McEwen, and three failures at 2.38m.
In the subsequent jump-off, both men failed at 2.38m and 2.36m before Kerr successfully cleared 2.34m after a failure from McEwen.
Bahrain’s Mutaz Essa Barshim secured his fourth Olympic high jump medal with a season’s best 2.34m in third.
Emma Hayes in dreamland after coaching USA to Olympic gold
Emma Hayes thanked her late father for helping her achieve her "dream" after coaching the United States to Olympic gold at Paris 2024.
USA defeated Brazil 1-0 in Saturday's final at the Parc des Princes through Mallory Swanson's goal just before the hour mark.
Hayes only took over as USWNT head coach in May, after leaving her role at Chelsea, and tasted success in her first tournament in charge.
Speaking to Discovery+ at full-time as the celebrations started, Hayes said: "I'm very emotional. It's been a dream of mine.
"I have to thank my dad - he's the one who pushed me to this position, to be able to come and coach an unbelievable group of players."
Hayes' father, who she has long described as a cornerstone in her football career, passed away last year.
"I've got my dad's necklace on," Hayes said post-match. "It's got an American eagle, and he was with me today and that helped.
"The crowd were tremendous. Brazil were tremendous. I'm just speechless. I'm in shock."
The United States have now won five Olympic golds in the women's final - four more than any other nation - with this their first since 2012.
Swanson calmly converted to give USA the victory in the French capital on her landmark 100th senior appearance for her national side.
This latest triumph comes 10 games into Hayes' tenure and puts the poor showings at the 2020 Games and 2023 World Cup in the past.
"They have received me so well and taken on board everything I've asked," Hayes added. "They're tremendous people, players and role models and I love them."
Brazil have still yet to win an Olympic gold in the tournament, with this their third runners-up finish after also falling just short in 2004 and 2008.
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