The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While the United States of America was dominant over the two days, the Bahamas saved its best performance in the introduction of the mixed 4x 400 metres at the third IAAF/BTC World Relays.

With the cheer roaring all around the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in the grand finale of the two—day meet, the team of world men’s 400m leader, Olympic gold medalist Shaunae Miller, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu posted a winning time of three minutes and 14.02 seconds for the gold – the only one in the championships, but it didn’t matter.

They established a national record in the process and got the national anthem to be played for the only time with the only medal presentation for Team Bahamas.

The USA, wrapped up the title for the third time, had to settle for the silver in3:17.29, while Jamaica won the bronze in 3:20.26.

The championships served as the road to the IAAF World Championships in London, England in August with both the men and women 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m teams guaranteeing their spots.

Both the women and men 4 x 100 metre teams locked in their berth for the IAAF World Championships in London, England, thanks to some key disqualifications in the latter division (men’s 4x1).

Neither of the 4 x 400m teams, however, got the job done.

Without their qualifications, the focus on the quarter-milers switched to the introduction of the mixed 4 x 400m as Gardiner and Miller opened a 50-metre lead on the USA’s pair of Michael Berry and Jaide Stepter respectively on the first two legs.

Strachan got caught and was passed on the final curve on the third leg by Paul Dedewo, but Mathieu was there to clean it up and returned the favor on anchor as he made up the grounds on Claudia Francis for the thrilling finish.

What a day to end the championships that saw the Americans finish on top of the chart once again for the Golden Baton crown with 60 points, followed by Jamaica in second with 39 and Australia third with 24.

The Bahamas climbed to eighth with 15.

As a result of contesting the much anticipated mixed relay, Miller-Uibo and Strachan both opted not to compete in the women’s 4 x 400m B final and the Bahamas had to withdraw its final, much to the dismay of the fans.

On Saturday, they combined with Christine Amertil and Rashan Brown to finish fourth in their heat on Saturday for 10th place overall.

Likewise, Gardiner and Mathieu also served their legs for the mixed relay as the Bahamas fielded the combo of Andretti Bain, Demetrius Pinder, Elroy McBride and Andre Colebrooke for the men’s 4 x 400m B final.

The quartet joggled between fourth and fifth place on each leg and were really never in contention for the front of the pack as they came in fifth in 3:08.29.

For Bain, it was all about redeeming himself.

“I told the guys we have to go out there with the team that we have and let’s give it our best,” he said. “I was very proud of Andre Colebrook and Elroy McBride, who came here and didn’t expect to run. He was just told this morning that he was going to run and they both did a great job.”

Given the chance to run, McBride said he just wanted to make the best of it.

“I just wanted to go out there and help the team win,” he stressed. “I thought we did a very good job. We didn’t have all of our best runners, but we did our best.”

Pinder said it was all about running with heart.

“We came out here and competed,” he stressed. “I was just glad that we got a chance to run. But we have to take it more serious as we try to get ready for the World Championships.”

And in his debut, Colebrook said he was prepared to give it his best shot.

“It was a good experience, considering that this was my first senior international team,” said Colebrook, who has moved down from the 800. “It was a good experience and I enjoyed running with these guys.”

On Saturday, the quartet of Michael Mathieu, Pinder, Bain and Gardiner finished third in their heat in their season’s best of 3:05.37 and ninth overall as they missed the opportunity to get into the A final and automatically qualify for London.

France won the race in 3:04.74, followed by Great Britain in 3:05.19.

On their way to the repeating as champions, the USA added the men’s 4 x 800m title to the women’s crown they clinched on Saturday to dominant the distance events.

The American men ran a world leading time of 7:13.16 for the gold, followed by Kenya with the silver in 7:13.70 and Poland holding onto the bronze in 7:18.74, both season best times.

Mexico, running with body cameras, was a distant fifth in 7:20.92.

In another thrilling performance, the American women’s 4 x 400m, anchored by Natasha Hastings, pulled away from the field to easily win in a world leading 3:24.36.

Poland sneaked through in the winding metres for the silver in 3:28.28 and Jamaica dropped to bronze in 3:28.49.

It wasn’t Jamaica, but rather Canada who snapped the USA streak of victories by taking the men’s 4 x200m in a world leading time of 1:19.42 with their Olympic star Andre De Grasse on the third leg.

The United States trailed for the silver in 1:19.88and Jamaica with Yohan Blake on anchor couldn’t catch Canadian Aaron Brown or American Ameer Webb as they settled for the bronze in 1:21.09.

But just when it seemed as if it would have been two straight defeats, Olympic and world champion LaShawn Merritt powered the USA to the gold in the men’s 4 x 400m in 3:02.13.

Botswana came close as Karabo Sibanda faded down the stretch as he tried to go for Merritt, but not enough as they ended up with the silver in 3:02.28. Jamaica came through with the bronze in 3:02.86.

The meet didn’t end without some disappointment for the USA as their women’s 4 x100m team didn’t finish the final that saw Germany crossed the line for the gold in 42.82. The silver went to Jamaica in 42.95 and the bronze to the People’s Republic of China in 43.11.