The United States women shocked the world by beating Jamaica in the 4×100 relay at the world championships on Saturday. The United States men, however, finished in second place due to their usual clumsy baton exchange.
USA Women’s 4x100m Relay Team 2021
Twanisha Terry’s victory against Shericka Jackson in the 200-meter dash gave the United States women a stunning upset victory over the much favoured Jamaican women, who had won five of the six sprint medals up until that point.
Melissa Jefferson, Abby Steiner, and Jenna Prandini completed the race for the United States with a time of 41.14.
There was a good chance that Jamaica would be doomed after Kemba Nelson and Elaine Thompson-sloppy Herah’s first pass. Jamaica entered with the full squad that won the 100-meter relay last weekend, including third-leg runner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. U.S. athletes swept the 100- and 200-meter medals.
Canada’s men’s team won the event in 37.48 seconds thanks to Andre DeGrasse, who crossed the finish line just.07 seconds before runner-up Marvin Bracy.
Elijah Hall went sliding to the ground when Bracy let go of the exchange and whiffed twice with his retaliatory reaches.
Despite the fact that the U.S. men will leave with hardware this time, after being medal-less in six of the previous thirteen worlds and three of the previous four Olympics, this cannot be viewed as anything but a disappointing outcome.
While the Americans were feeling confident after their strong showing in the preliminary races the day before, they sat out some of their medalists from earlier in the week, including Trayvon Bromell, Erriyon Knighton, Kenny Bednarek, and the injured Fred Kerley.
The employment of Hall was maintained. His career includes a 2018 NCAA relay win and a fifth-place result in the 100 metres at nationals, both of which were accomplished while competing for the University of Houston, where the legendary Carl Lewis, a vocal opponent of the United States’ relay system, has been coaching for many years.
Last Words
Neither Jefferson nor Steiner had a very easy first pass, but neither did Jamaica.
With around a four-step lead over Jackson, who two nights ago had ran the second-fastest time ever in the 200, Terry took the stick for the anchor leg (21.45).
Terry leaned towards the line to win the race, giving the United States its first victory in this event at the world championships since 2017 (when Fraser-Pryce was sidelined due to her pregnancy).
