US nip Jamaica in mixed 4x100m at Ultimate Championship

A gallant Jamaica mixed 4x100 metres relay team was outrun by the United States on the opening day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday.

Jamaica, the world record holders in the event, pushed the USA all the way but the Americans took the win in 39.64 seconds, just two hundredths of a second outside Jamaica’s 39.62 world record.

The Jamaican quartet, Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Jonielle Smith placed second in 39.72 while Great Britain and Northern Ireland were third in 40.26.

Tina Clayton, who ran the second leg, said the team’s tactics “did not go exactly as planned”.

“The atmosphere was absolutely amazing and fun. We just wish we had clear exchanges to give ourselves a better shot but it is what it is. Our tactics did not go exactly as we planned. We wanted quicker exchanges, but again it is what it is. We wanted to win, we got the baton around on our own and we finished healthy, that is the most important thing.”

Sprint hurdler Megan Simmonds produced the country’s best individual finish with fifth place in the 100m hurdles.

Simmonds clocked a season’s best 12.42 seconds in the final to finish fifth behind American winner Masai Russell, who clocked 12.22. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan was second in 12.34, with Dutchwoman Nadine Visser third in 12.39 and Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas fourth in 12.40.

Earlier three other Jamaicans failed to advance from the semifinals of the event. Ackera Nugent was seventh in semifinal one in 12.81 while in semifinal two, Danielle Williams was fifth in 12.72 and Demisha Roswell placed eighth in 13.04.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Orlando Bennett finished fifth in semifinal one in 13.49 and Demario Prince seventh in 13.50. Tyler Mason was seventh in semifinal two in 13.46.

The United States dominated the event taking the top four spots. In a very close finish world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp (12.94) outleaned world champion Cordel Tinch (12.95) for the win. Bradley Franklin was third in 13.01 and Trey Cunningham fourth in 13.08.

Lamara Distin was sixth in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.86 metres. The winner was Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine with a best of 1.99m. Australians Nicola Olyslagers (1.95m) and Eleanor Patterson (1.91m) were second and third respectively.

On the track, national record holder Nickisha Pryce advanced to today’s final of the women’s 400m after finishing third in her semifinal in 49.72 seconds. The semifinal was won in 49.58 by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.

National 400m champion Stacey Ann Williams failed to advance after placing seventh in semi-final two in 50.52. The semifinal went to Norway’s Henriette Jaeger in 49.64.

The Ultimate Championship, which features the world’s leading athletes in a new compact format, has a record US$10-million prize purse, with individual event winners earning US$150,000.