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THE JAMAICA men's mile relay that won gold at the 10th IAAF World Track & Field Championship in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday's final day has been named The Gleaner's top Performer of the Week.
The team of Gregory Haughton, Leroy Colquhoun, Michael McDonald and Davian Clarke closed the three-day meet with a big win in the 1600-metre relay, taking Jamaica to victory in a year's best time of three minutes, 05.21 seconds.
Despite the fact their job was made easier by the United States's dropped baton on their final exchange, one would think that with Clarke, arguably the best relay runner in the world, on the anchor leg for Jamaica, victory was more than likely.
It all started when Olympic bronze medallist Gregory Haughton gave the Jamaicans a good start before handing over to Leroy Colquhoun who then passed to Michael McDonald who, despite reaching the final change second, gave Clarke the baton first after the U.S.'s botched effort.
It was the first victory in the indoor event for the Jamaicans, who had been silver medallists in 1997 and 2003.
Russia (3:06.23) chased Jamaica for second and the U.S., who were third at finish, were later disqualified and placed last.
Anthony Foster
