Easy route to final
Jamaica’s mens scored a rare victory over the United States of America (USA) in the 4x400m relay to earn a place in the final set for tomorrow night.
The team (in running order) of Rusheen McDonald, Pete Mathews, Nathan Allen and Javon Francis ran the fastest time this season, 2:58.29 seconds.
Javon Francis, who once again showed his likeness for the mile relay, collected the baton in second spot and ran a more measured race than last year at the World Champs and took Jamaica home safely.
With relatively ordinary runs by McDonald and Mathews, 20-year-old Allen ran the race of his life and took Jamaica from fourth to second on the third leg.
“They believed in me, my coaches, my training partners, so I just gave it my all,” said Allen, a former student of St Jago High school.
“It means a lot to get into the final. To come out here and perform, I was excited,” said Allen, who was actually third at the National Championships, but failed to make the Olympic qualifying mark. “I did not get to run the 400m but that has gone now. That is done. God has better plans for me.”
It’s the first time in many relays that Francis got the baton in a position where he could relax, plan his race, and he executed perfectly.
He settled in second spot with his Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) nemesis Machel Cedenio tracking him once again. Francis shook off his challenge before going by David Verburg on anchor for the USA.
Running without LaShawn Merritt, the Americans finished second in 2:58.38, which is season’s best for the Americans. The emerging Botswana were third with 2:59.35 seconds which was a national record. T&T finished third, but was later disqualified.
“I just wanted my teammates to get a good win going into the final and we just take it from there.
“Anything can happen in the final. It’s eight lanes there, and top three get a medal, so I will just go out there and run to the best of my ability and get a medal,” said Francis.
Francis said he is quietly eyeing a medal as his teammates all did pretty well in the heats as everyone was on their “A game”.
“Last year was a disappointing year for me, so I just used the time to rebound and come back. I did it already, so I must can do it again,” said a confident Francis, referring to his heroics at the Moscow World Championships in 2013.
“I get experience every time I run the relay, and I learn by watching my icons Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint and Bert Cameron and those guys, and I want to be great like them,” Francis said.
