Trinidad and Tobago restored some semblance of pride to Caribbean track and field athletics when that nation’s men’s 4X400 meters men’s relay team pulled off a huge upset to win the final event of the London World Championships.
The London games has not been the best for the region’s athletes. Many of the Caribbean’s top performers failed to medal or had to settle for minor placings. But in the last event of the championship the men from the land of the hummingbird pulled off what could be described as one of the biggest upsets of the games.
Gordon powered past US runner
Final leg runner Lalonde Gordon tracked the US’s Fred Kerley for most of the lap before powering past the US runner in the home stretch to win in 2 minutes, 58.12 seconds. The U.S. team was second in 2:58.61. Britain took bronze in 2:59.00.
The United States had not lost the long distance relay at the World Championships since 2003. The Americans did lose the event in the finals at the 2012 London Olympics in the same stadium.
The gold by Trinidad and Tobago was only the second earned by a Caribbean country in the London World Championships. This followed the 110 meters nen’s hurdles win by Jamaica’s Omar McLeod.
Bad luck continued in women’s equivalent
Minutes earlier the bad luck that has beset the region in London continued when the Jamaican women, who were rated as medal contenders, did not finish the 4 x 400 women final. Second leg runner, Anisha Mclaughlin, a late substitute on the Jamaican relay team pulled up injured some 20 yards after receiving the baton. It was the second time in two days that a Jamaican runner pulled up injured after Sprint King Usain Bolt, fell grimacing to the track during his final leg run in the 4X100 meters men’s relay on Saturday.
