- REUTERS
Anchor runner Lauryn Williams of the US (left) looks up after crossing the finish line for a U.S. victory in the women's 4x100 metres relay final, ahead of second-placed Veronica Campbell of Jamaica (right) at the World Championships in Helsinki yesterday.
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
HELSINKI, Finland:
VERONICA CAMPBELL ended her IAAF World Championships campaign on a high last night as she powered Jamaica to a silver medal in the women's sprint relay final.
On another clear but cool night, Jamaica, bidding to add World Championships gold to the Olympic title they won last year, were denied by an American team led by 100 metres gold medallist Lauryn Williams.
The United States won in a world leading 41.78 seconds with Jamaica second in a season best 41.99. Belarus set a national record 42.56 to pocket the bronze medal.
Campbell, who ended the meet with two silver medals, got the baton two metres behind on the last exchange but could make no impression on a determined Williams.
Jamaica's team, in running order, was Daniele Browning, Sherone Simpson, Aleen Bailey and Campbell. Veteran Beverly McDonald, who would have taken a place on the team ahead of Browning, injured herself during the changeover in Friday's semi-finals and withdrew before the final.
Last night's silver brought Jamaica's medal tally at the championships to six, one gold, four silver and a bronze. They are now seventh overall on the medal table behind runaway leaders the United States. The United States have 24 medals, 13 gold, eight silver and three bronze.
SATISFIED
Campbell was, as usual, satisfied with the result of the sprint relay.
"I think it was a great race. All the ladies came out and gave it their best shot. We got the stick around and that's the most important thing, so we are satisfied with the result," she said.
She felt the battle for gold and silver could have been closer if she had got the baton a little earlier and said Jamaica would now have to work on their baton changing for upcoming meets.
"We need to be very smooth in our baton changing as this will help us to run faster and better," she said.
The men were denied a bronze by the closest of margins. Again 100m silver medallist Michael Frater ran brilliantly but he failed by less than an inch to peg back Great Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis on the final leg. Britain clocked 38.27 to Jamaica's 38.28.
In another photo finish for the top two places, France took the gold in a world leading 38.08, with Trinidad and Tobago second in a national record 38.10.
Frater said it was tough to come so close but the quartet ran a near national record time.
"We thought that after making some adjustments on yesterday's run we would have been among the medals but sadly this year it was not to be. We just have to take this as a stepping stone and look towards the Common-wealth Games and the next World Championships in 2007," he said.
The Jamaica team was Lerone Clarke, Dwight Thomas, Ainsley Waugh and Frater.
James Beckford could not perform his heroics of two years ago when he won silver in Paris and failed to make the last eight in the long jump final. Beckford, who has been having a fairly low-key season, finished ninth overall with a best leap of 8.02m on his second attempt. He had fouled the first and only got up to 7.93m on his third.
American Dwight Philips did 8.60m on his first attempt and that was enough for gold as he did not make another legal jump. Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah was second with 8.34m and Tommi Evila gave hosts Finland their first medal of the meet, beating Joan Lino Martinez of Spain by a centimetre, 8.25m to 8.24m, for the bronze.
DRAMA
There was a lot of drama for Jamaica in the second semi-final of the women's 4x400m and they almost did not make it. The two opening legs by Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams were excellent but confusion reigned in the final changeover between Ronetta Smith and Lorraine Fenton. It took a gallant run by Fenton to get Jamaica into the final as one of the fastest losers.
As Smith came in to make the pass in second on the third leg the baton fell to the track. When the change was eventually made, the field had gone well ahead of Jamaica. Fenton, however, kept her composure and eventually crossed the line in 3:27.87 and Jamaica qualified as the eighth fastest team. They were later promoted to fourth in their heat following the disqualification of the United States for a lane violation.
With the Americans out, Jamaica could challenge for the silver in this event. The Russians look invincible but the other seven teams, Poland, Great Britain, Brazil, Ukraine, Belarus, Jamaica and Germany are evenly matched.
The men had very few problems advancing to today's 4x400m final. Michael Blackwood, Sanjay Ayre, Lansford Spence and relay specialist Davian Clarke were pipped on the line by the Bahamas (2:59.73) after running a season best 3:59.75 in semi-final heat one. With 400m finalist Brandon Simpson expected to replace either Spence or Ayre, the Jamaican men's team could also emerge with a silver in tonight's final event.
The Americans, barring mishap, will be too strong for their rivals but Jamaica, with Simpson looking very strong in the individual event, could get the better of the Bahamas and Poland. Poland had the third fastest time, 3:00.38, in the semi-finals.
The United States took things easy in winning semi-final heat two in 3:00.48 ahead of Trinidad with 3:01.91. Great Britain won the third and final heat in 3:01.95.
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