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Americans Win at USA vs. the World
By Mike Rosenbaum, About.com Guide to Track & Field
The U.S. won four of six relays in Saturday’s “USA vs. The World” competition in Philadelphia. The event was a part of the third day of the 115th Penn Relays.
Unlike the Beijing Olympics, the U.S. enjoyed bobble-free relays and swept the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 events. Jamaica won the women’s sprint medley relay while Kenya won the men’s distance medley relay.
The U.S. went 1-2 in the men’s 4 x 100, as the American Blue team of Walter Dix, Travis Padgett, Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton led from the start and finished in 37.92 seconds, edging the USA Red team of Terrence Trammell, Mark Jelks, Ivory Williams and Mike Rodgers (38.36). Jamaica, without Usain Bolt, finished ninth (41.24) after Asafa Powell limped down the stretch due to a continuing ankle injury.
The American 4 x 400 quartet of Kerron Clement, Angelo Taylor, David Neville and a strong-finishing LaShawn Merritt ran 2:59.78 to defeat the Bahamas (3:00.29), with USA Blue (Jamaal Torrance, Craig Everhart, Wallace Spearmon and Darold Williamson) taking third in 3:00.58.
On the women’s side, 4 x 100 anchor Carmelita Jeter pulled away down the final straight to lead the U.S. to victory (42.40). She was preceded by Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix and Mechelle Lewis. Jamaica’s quartet of Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser was a close second (42.77), with the Bahamas third (43.64).
The only U.S. relay glitch occurred in the women’s 4 x 400, but it didn’t prevent an American victory. Lead runner Monica Hargrove stepped on Natasha Hastings’ foot and pulled off her shoe during the first exchange. But Hastings didn’t seem to miss a stride as she maintained the lead despite running with one bare foot. Felix and Sanya Richards followed as the U.S. won in 3:23.08. Jamaica’s Nickiesha Wilson, Rosemarie Whyte, Novelene Williams-Mills and Sherika Williams placed second (3:24.57), with the USA Blue quartet of Dominique Darden, Shana Cox, Sheena Tosta and Monique Hennagan third (3:26.50).
Jamaica’s Brooks, Whyte, Moya Thompson and Kenia Sinclair gained a decisive sprint medley victory in 3:34.54. Russia was second (3:37.37) and the U.S. (Rachelle Smith, Ebonie Floyd, Debbie Dunn and Hazel Clark) third in 3:38.36.
The distance medley relay featured the day’s closest finish, with Kenya’s Frederick Ndunge, Thomas Musembi, Jackson Kivuna and Josephat Kithii (9:22.04) edging Canada (9:22.05). American Lopez Lamong led into the final lap of his 800-meter anchor leg but was passed by Canada’s Nate Brannen as well as Kithii. The Kenyan anchor gradually narrowed the gap, then out-leaned Brannen at the tape. Matthew Lincoln, Tyler Christopher and Gary Reed also ran for Canada. Lamong’s USA White team, including Christian Smith, Kelly Willie and Matt Scherer, placed third (9:23.65).
In the collegiate division, the University of Tennessee women’s team swept three relays. The quartet of Kimarra McDonald, Chanelle Price, Sarah Bowman and Phoebe Wright won the 4 x 800-meter relay on Saturday (April 25) with a U.S. record time of 8:17.91. Tennessee won the 4 x 1500 on April 24 with Price, Wright, Rolanda Bell and Bowman running a world-best 17:08.34. The Tennessee team of Wright, McDonald, Price and Sarah Bowman captured the distance medley relay on April 23 (11:02.11). |
