The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT was a valiant effort for Team Bahamas in the women’s 4x400m but the team remains a work in progress and failed to make the event’s final at the BTC IAAF World Relays.

The Bahamas finished fourth in heat two and 10th overall, missing a bid to qualify for the A final.

The team of Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan, Christine Amertil and Rashan Brown finished in 3:34.40 seconds - a season’s best time - but not fast enough to advance among the top eight teams.

Miller-Uibo, the reigning Olympic champion, ran the opening leg and gave the Bahamas a considerable lead with her split of 50.25. She handed off to Strachan, still transitioning to the 400m following a career of being a standout 100/200m sprinter.

Strachan ran a split of 53.37 secs, but maintained the Bahamas first place position. Veteran quartermiler Christine Amertil took the baton next and was able to with hold the charge from the field with her 54.11 split. Rashan Brown anchored the team, but fell behind down the stretch and was bypassed by Nigeria, Great Britain and Canada in an effort to qualify.

Amertil, the veteran of the team at 37, said the future of the country’s women’s 4x400m programme is promising with a talented group of juniors and more athletes transitioning to the 400m.

“We went out there, we gave it our best, we had a strategy and I think it worked out as well as can be. To come out with the fourth isn’t what what we were hoping for, but the effort was put forth by everyone and that’s always a good thing,” she said, “Initially, especially in the case of Anthonique I think she was quite afraid of it [running the 400m], but I always knew she had the ability to do it. After running a few of these races she now knows she can do this 400. Rashan is coming from a 400m background, I think it’s just a matter of her getting back into the rhythm of it and doing a few more of these races. In the years to come, especially with the juniors we have coming up, the Bahamas’ 4x400m women will be something to pay attention to.”

Nigeria took first place in 3:31.97 secs, followed by Great Britain in 3:33.00 secs and Canada third in 3:33.54 secs.

The top eight teams which qualified for the final included the United States (3:29.27 secs), Poland (3:39.42 secs), Jamaica (3:29.93 secs), Australia (3:30.31 secs), Botswana (3:31.61 secs), Nigeria, Great Britain and France (3:34.40 secs).

The United States would go on to take the gold medal in the final in a world leading time of 3:24.36 secs. Poland took silver in 3:28.28 secs and Jamaica had to settle for third in 3:28.49 secs after being edged at the line.

The Bahamas would not field a team for the B final.