Michael Frater (left) of Jamaica takes the baton on the last leg from Clement Campbell in the 4x100 metres heats at the World Athletics Championships. -Reuters photo
Elton Tucker
PARIS, France:
JAMAICA ADVANCED to three relay finals on the penultimate day of the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Stade de France yesterday.
The men's and women's 4x400m team's along with the men's sprint relay will give Jamaica a strong presence on today's final day and a chance to add to the three silver medals already earned.
There was bad luck for the island's women in the only final they contested yesterday. Brigitte Foster pulled up on the last leg of the women's sprint with a suspected hamstring injury with Jamaica in contention for a bronze medal.
FOSTER FALLS
Vonette Dixon ran a very good lead-off leg to Elva Goulbourne and Beverly McDonald and Foster had a fairly good change off in joint third. Foster, in fourth, hopped on one leg, then continued, then fell to the track as hosts France went on to pip the United States for the gold medal, winning in a national record and world leading 41.78. The Americans clocked 41.83 for silver and Russia 42.66 for the bronze medal.
Dixon said the injury to Foster was "unfortunate".
"Our plan going into the race was to be on the podium. Her (Foster's) leg was bothering her but she wanted to go out and represent her country. I do not think the injury was not bad enough to suggest she might pull up," Dixon said.
Led by a powerful final leg from Asafa Powell Jamaica also reached the men's sprint relay final.
Powell took his team from fourth to second in semi-final one in 38.45. Winners the US clocked 37.99 while Poland were third in 38.50.
Earlier the Jamaica quartet of Julian Dunkley, Dwight Thomas, Michael Frater and Ricardo Williams were third in the first-round heat three in 38.84.
Poland won in 38.52 with the Netherlands second in a national record 38.72.
JA TEAM REVAMPED FOR SEMIS
The Jamaica team was revamped for the semi-finals with Powell replacing Dunkley and Ricardo Williams moved to the starting position.
Powell thinks Jamaica can be among the medals in today's final.
"If we get the baton smoothly around we can give the Americans some strong competition and even win the final," Powell said.
Great Britain won the second men's semi-final in 38.26 from Brazil, 35.50, and Nigeria, 38.58.
The men's and women's 4x400m teams are also in contention for medals.
The women led from start to finish to take the opening heat in the 4x400m semi-finals. Sandie Richards, Ronetta Smith, Michelle Burgher and Allison Beckford clocked 3:26.22. Great Britain were just behind in 3:26.44 and Poland close up in 3:26.66.
Richards led off in 51.69 to Smith (51.79), Burgher (51.74) and Beckford who closed in 51.00.
Beckford likes Jamaica's chances for a medal.
"We ran pretty well out there today and we are confident that tomorrow we will be at our best as we try to successfully defend the title we won in Edmonton," Beckford said.
Individual silver medallist Lorraine Fenton will come into the team today, most likely ahead of Smith who had the slowest 400m split.
The fastest qualifiers for the final were the US, 3:24.57, in winning heat three while Russia took heat two in 3:27.97.
The men's team, led by relay specialist Davian Clarke, eased into the final with a season best 3:01.37 in the second of three heats. The team was Michael Campbell (45.06), Lansford Spence (45.60), Brandon Simpson 45.79 and Clarke (44.92). Clarke gave a rousing finish and said afterwards that he ran well within himself.
"I tried to run smoothly all the way through and to keep an even stride. I did not know what was going on behind me until I hit the straight," Clarke said.
The Americans, who are the overwhelming gold medal favourites, cruised home in their heat in 3:00.98 from the Bahamas, the second fastest qualifiers - 3:01.33, and Spain, 3:02.26. Neither individual gold medallist Jerome Young or the runner-up Tyree Washington were on the team. Hosts France took heat three in 3:01.79 from Great Britain, 3:02.22.
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
All times Jamaican
7:20 a.m: Marathon women final
9:45 a.m: High jump women final
9:50 a.m: Javelin Throw men final
10:30 a.m: 800m men final
10:50 a.m: 4x100m men final
11:20 a.m: 1500m women final
11:40 a.m: 5000m men final
12:10 p.m: 4x400m women final
12:35 p.m: 4x400m men final
