Sprinter Justin Gatlin strikes gold at World Relays

Justin GatlinNassau Bahamas Evergreen American sprinter Justin Gatlin struck gold when he anchored his team to victory at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau on Saturday while double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson shone for Jamaica The battle between Gatlin the 35yearold 2004 Olympic 100m champion who has served two doping bans and Usain Bolts selfprofessed successor Andre de Grasse did not play out the Canadian deprived of the chance to run his leg after a botched handover by his teammatesDe Grasse a threetime medallist at the Rio Olympics had cocked his head over towards Gatlin three times before turning on the afterburners to edge the American in the heats But there was to be no showboating come the final at a breezy halffull Thomas ARobinson stadium as Aaron Brown fluffed his handover to Brendon Rodney The US were not out of danger however with Britain looking to be ahead as Gatlin took the baton from Ronnie Baker after slick passovers between Leshon Collins and Mike Rodgers But Englishman Danny Talbot failed to hit his mark and Gatlin had a free run in for 3843sec eyes glued on the big screen in near bewilderment as Barbados took silver at a distant 3912 and China bronze 3922 Im proud of my guys the team said Gatlin dubbing himself the official track vampire for his longevityThey were hungry not nervous or jittery Gatlin added that the result was perfect ahead of the August world championships in London We wanted to prepare ourselves saying lets have smooth handoffs be as fast as we can for April he said We want to come across the line first in August as we did tonight and we want to be as successful as possible I didnt realise Great Britain and Canada didnt get the stick off so I was running with 20 metres to the line thinking hey wheres everyone atThompson the anchor Thompson who won double gold in Rio last year was afforded a rousing welcome as she safely led her Jamaican teammates to victory in the womens 4x200m The 24yearold anchored her team also including Jura Levy Shericka Jackson and Sashalee Forbes home in a championship record of 1min 2904sec Germany 13068 snatching silver from the United States by 021There was no pressure said Thompson We came on the track and do what we do The US defended their womens 4x800m relay title in first final of the night Laura Roesler and Charlene Lipsey pulling away in the final two legs after teammates Chanelle Price and Chrishuna Williams were involved in an early nipandtuck battle with Australia Ive had the pleasure of making all three teams that have won here in the Bahamas said Price whose opening leg of 20173 was the quickest run on the night I knew we had a target on our backs and that all the other teams wanted to take the crown from us We also wanted to set the tone for the USA Belarus eventually edged the Australian quartet into third thanks to a strong anchor leg by Maryna Arzamasova the 2015 world champion in BeijingDespite Olympic 400m champion Shaunae MillerUibo running a scorching first leg the Bahamas failed to progress to the final of the womens 4x400m France with European indoor champion Floria Guei running anchor also failed to qualify There was also no such luck for the Jamaican mens 4x100m quartet missing Bolt and late withdrawal Asafa Powell as the precision needed for baton passovers was highlighted in their firstround race Third leg runner Jevaughan Minzie bolted before Kemar BaileyCole could get the baton anywhere near to him leaving anchor leg Yohan Blake the 2011 world 100m champion and double 2012 Olympic silver medallist behind Bolt with his head in his handsThat leaves the Jamaicans needing to post a top16 qualifying time for the London worlds by July 23 Sundays action sees the men compete in the 4x200m 4x400m and 4x800m and the women in the 4x100m and 4x400m while there will also be a mixedsex 4x400m relay handing MillerUibo a second chance to shine in front of her raucous home support