Sanya Richards (right) of the US brings the baton home ahead of Russia's Natalya Nazarova to win the women's 4x400 metres relay during the World Athletics Championships at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis yesterday. Jamaica's fast-finishing Lorraine Fenton ends third. - Reuters PARIS, France
JAMAICA won two relay bronze medals on the final evening of the ninth IAAF World Athletics Championships to end the nine-day meet with five medals.
The tally, three silver and two bronze medals, was the same as two years ago.
This year's haul lacked the same quality, however, as the country won a gold, two silver and two bronze at the Edmonton championships.
The men's and women's 4x400m teams were both third but it could well have been silver or gold as Jamaica had a chance for greater glory in both relays.
GALLANT ATTEMPT
First individual silver medallist Lorraine Graham made a gallant attempt to successfully defend the title they won in Edmonton two years ago with a superb final leg run.
She got the baton nearly 15 metres behind her rivals and gradually ate into the lead in the first 300 metres. She appeared ready to run past her rivals, American Sanya Richards and Russia's Natalya Nazarova, 90 metres out but the early effort to close the gap took its toll 20 metres from the finish.
The Russian just held on for second while the Jamaica-born American Richards completed a brilliant final leg.
The Americans clocked a world leading 3:22.63 for the gold, Russia 3:22.91 and Jamaica a season-best 3:22.92 in third.
Veteran Sandie Richards, who handed over in third at the end of the first leg, was full of praise for Fenton.
"Lorraine (Fenton) ran an awesome leg. She is in great shape and it showed in her performance. That leg must have been 48 plus."
Fenton said she was determined to do well despite the odds.
"I went out there with a lot of heart and ran very hard," Fenton said.
She added: "We thought we had a chance (for gold) if we ran hard and gave our best effort. I think we did that. It's only that the others were doing well, too."
Jamaica made one change to the team which won their qualifying heat with Fenton replacing Michelle Burgher. The other members of the bronze medal winning team were Allison Beckford (second leg) and Ronetta Smith (third leg).
The men's team saw two changes from the quartet which won their qualifying heat on Saturday with 400m hurdles finalist Danny McFarlane and 400m finalist Michael Blackwood replacing Lansford Spence and Michael Campbell.
As he has done on numerous occasions, Davian Clarke ran a brilliant third leg and gave Jamaica the lead.
Blackwood, however, could not withstand the closing rush of 400m gold medallist Jerome Young and the bronze medallist Marc Raquil of France.
The United States celebrated the women's and men's 4x400m double winning in 2:58.88. France got the silver in a national record 2:58.96 while Jamaica ran a season-best 2:59.60 for third.
Blackwood said home advantage helped the French.
"It was a very good race. We were right up there but the French made a huge effort in front of the home crowd," Blackwood said.
The day was not without mishap. For the second time in the meet Jamaica failed to finish the sprint relay final. This time it was a baton change which went completely wrong between lead-off man Ricardo Williams and Dwight Thomas. Thomas appeared to have had the baton in his hand then juggled it and it fell to the track.
Anchor leg runner Asafa Powell, who was disqualified for a second false start in the men's 100m second round on the second day of the meet, was again left standing at the top of the final straight.
"I am so disappointed I really do not know what to say," were Powell's comments after the race.
Williams and Thomas both declined to comment on the incident as they walked past journalists shortly after the event.
Several of Jamaica's top athletes will remain in Europe for Grand Prix duties while members of the management team, including manager Ludlow Watt and technical leader Dennis Johnson, are due home at 2.35p.m. this afternoon.
