Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis (right) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's 4 x 100 metres relay final ahead of (from left) Brazil's Vicente Lima, Maurice Greene of the U.S., Nigeria's Deji Aliu and Australia's Joshua Ross at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games yesterday. Britain won the gold medal in a time of 38.07 seconds ahead of the U.S. and Nigeria.
-Reuters photo
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
ATHENS, Greece:
VETERAN SANDIE Richards inspired an inexperienced Jamaica women's 4x400m team to a surprising bronze medal as the athletics competition inside the Olympic Stadium came to an end last night.
Jamaica finished the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad with five medals two gold, a silver and two bronze. It was the first time since 1952 that the island was taking home two gold medals from the same Games.
The men's marathon will bring all competition to a close this evening at about 8.30 p.m. The closing ceremony will follow the end of the marathon.
Richards, who at age 35 is competing in her fifth Games, ran a solid 50.55 seconds final leg as Jamaica finished well clear of fourth-placed Britain who clocked 3:25.12.
The United States ran away with the gold medal with a season best 3:19.01. Russia were second, also in a season best 3:20.16. Jamaica-born Sanya Richards, a past student of Vaz Prep, was a member of the American team.
BEST LEG
Jamaica's best leg in the final came from 24-year-old first time Olympian Nadia Davy who ran a 50.25 split on the third leg to cement third spot.
Another first-time Olympian Novelene Williams, 22, led off with a solid 50.37, a time better than her personal best but only handed over in fourth spot. The 27-year-old Michelle Burgher (50.83), in her second Games, pushed Jamaica one place up on the second leg before Davy's burst ensured Jamaica collected its fifth medal of the Games.
Richards who carried Jamaica's flag at the opening ceremony was happy to win her second 4x400m Olympic medal, four years after getting a silver in Sydney.
"I feel great," Richards said. "I was happy to be in the position that we could get a medal and the girls put it together when nobody thought we could get there in the absence of national record holder Lorraine (Fenton). But this is for her too even though she could not be here."
Richards, who is planning to attempt either the 400m hurdles or 800 metres next season, said it was a good race.
NO MORE THAN BRONZE
"I thought it would have been a little bit closer, but the two teams ahead of us had four solid legs so we could not ask for more than the bronze right now."
Richards who turns 36 on November 6 brushed aside questions about retirement.
"Everybody is asking me about retirement but I think I ran a good leg today and the girls are begging me to stay so I will stay another year."
Davy said the Games were a good learning experience after her below par effort in the 400m.
"I did not let that get me down. I came out here today to do my best and to give the team all that I had," Davy said.
The final day of competition inside the Athens Olympic Stadium was highlighted by the stinging upset of a crack American 4x100m team by a determined British quartet.
Mark Lewis-Francis outran 100m bronze medallist and former world record holder Maurice Greene on the final leg to win in 38.07. The Americans were just behind in 38.08 and Nigeria third in 38.23. For the British the win was made even sweeter by the fact that the American team included 100m winner Justin Gatlin and 200m gold medallist Shawn Crawford.
Several members of Jamaica's track and field team here will start returning home tonight. Among those slated to be back in Jamaica today are sprint relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson, Jermaine Gonzales, Usain Bolt, Chris Williams, Winston Smith, Kerron Stewart and Michelle Burgher.
Other members of the squad are due home over the next three days. There are reports here late last night double gold medallist Veronica Campbell could run in this weekend's Brussels Grand Prix meet along with 400m hurdles silver medallist Danny McFarlane.
Earlier reports from the Jamaica camp were that Campbell had missed two weeks of school and was heading back to the United States at the end of the Games.
