By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor 
Athletes (from left) Germany's Bastian Swillims, Japan's Mitsuhiro Sato, Jamaica's Davian Clarke, Australia's Mark Ormrod and Britain's Matthew Elias run in a heat of the men's 4 x 400 metres relay yesterday. - Reuters
ATHENS, Greece:
JAMAICA'S CHANCES for more medals on today's penultimate day of competition at the 2004 Olympic Games all but evaporated with the disqualification of the men's 4x400 metres and the elimination of the men's sprint relay team.
The 4x400m quartet crossed the line third in semi-final heat one and gained an automatic place in the last eight but were thrown out of the final under IAAF rule 163.3 following a lane infringement shortly after the first baton change.
The IAAF rule states that in all races run in lanes, each competitor shall keep within his allocated lane from start to finish. This shall apply to any portion of a race run in lanes.
BAD LUCK
Michael Blackwood, who has had bad luck in two previous championships the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and last year's World Championships in Paris - was shown during slow motion television replays here running outside his lane twice and after a protest by a team finishing behind, Jamaica were disqualified.
The Jamaican quartet in running order was Michael Campbell, Michael Blackwood, Jermaine Gonzales and Davian Clarke.
The heat was one by Great Britain in a season best 3:02.40, Japan were second in 3:02.71 and Germany who were awarded third clocked 3:02.77.
It was a big disappointment for all but teenager Gonzales would have been the most hurt as he had been idle here for over two weeks and had lost a chance to run in his first Olympic final.
The United States were the leading qualifiers. They won semi-final heat two in 2:59.30 from Nigeria with a season best 3:01.60 with the Bahamas third in 3:01.74.
The 4x400m women, led by veteran five-time Olympian Sandie Richards, got safely through to the final with second in semi-final one. Ronetta Smith, Michelle Burgher, Nadia Davy and Richards ran well for a season best 3:24.93 behind Russia's 2004 best of 3:23.52. Poland were third in 3:25.05.
A no-nonsense American team took the second 4x400m semi-final heat in 3:23.79. Jamaica-born Sanya Richards ran the final leg. Hosts Greece were second in 3:26.70 while India were third in a national record 3:26.89 to reach their second Olympic Games 4x400m final. They were seventh in 1984.
The Jamaica men's sprint relay team, running without injured 100m finalists Asafa Powell, gave a lacklustre performance and were eliminated.
With only the first three and the two fastest losers qualifying for the final from two semi-final heats, Jamaica started very flat and finished fourth in the second heat. The quartet of Dwight Thomas, Patrick Jarrett, Winston Smith and Michael Frater clocked a season best 38.71 but this was good enough for only 11th overall.
TOO FAR
Frater ran a very good anchor leg but the other teams were already too far ahead.
Maurice Wignall was desperately unlucky not to get a medal in the men's 110m hurdles final won in a world record equalling 12.91 seconds by China's 21-year-old Xiang Liu.
Wignall looked good for a bronze coming over the last hurdle but he was nosed out in a close finish for the minor medals by Sydney gold medallist Anier Garcia of Cuba, who clocked a season best 13.20 for third. American Terrence Trammell was the silver medal winner in 13.18.
Wignall said he was disappointed at not getting a medal but happy that he had reached the final.
"I really tried my best today," Wignall said.
He added: "I am a little disappointed because I did not get the medal but that's how it goes sometimes. The overall favourite in the event did not get to the final so I guess there is a little bit of disappointment all round. I still wanted a medal, however and any colour would have been good."
Wignall said he did not get a very good start and this was caused by the little "jitters" he felt before the event.
"I learnt during the event that you have to keep your cool as its only 13 seconds
IN ACTION TODAY
Women's 4x400m team 10 p.m. (2 p.m. Ja time)
