It might not have been the same quartet who make up The Bahamas' "Golden Knights", but the team of Ramon Miller, Michael Mathieu, Steven Gardiner and Chris Brown, in that order, was exceptional last night, giving The Bahamas the silver medal behind the United States of America to close out the second running of the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) World Relays.
The American men's 4x400 meters (m) team of David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt, in that order, won the gold in a world-leading time of 2:58.43. The Bahamas was second in a season's best time of 2:58.91, and Belgium, consisting of three Borlee brothers, was third, in a national record time of 2:59.33.
The Bahamas trailed early, but on the strength of great legs from Mathieu, Gardiner and Brown, they closed the gap to just a few meters at the end. Gardiner, in particular, just 19 years old, ran down former World and Olympic Champion Wariner before being passed on the home stretch. Anchor leg Brown took the baton from Gardiner but the gap was too insurmountable to overcome, especially against Merritt, the joint fifth-fastest quarter-miler of all-time.
"We've been running pretty good, and we have some youngsters coming up, so I feel very optimistic about this team in the future," said the veteran of the team, Chris "The Fireman" Brown. "As young Gardiner showed tonight, the future is bright for The Bahamas in this event. I felt great out there. I just want to give all glory to God for bringing us through and keeping us healthy. We have a lot more in store for the rest of the season. The Bahamas could look forward to great things from us in the immediate future."
The United States was completely dominant in the this year, winning seven of the 10 relays on the track, setting world records in two of them and meet records in four more.
Jamaica won two relays, including a breathtaking final of the women's 4x100 meters (m) in a new world-leading time last night, and Nigeria took the other one - the women's 4x200m final.
In the women's 4x100m final, the Jamaicans, anchored by one of the greatest female sprinters of all-time, Veronica Campbell-Brown, took the gold in 42.14 seconds. The Americans, anchored by Carmelita Jeter, settled for the silver, in a season's best time of 42.32 seconds; Great Britain won the bronze in a season's best time of 42.84 seconds.
As for the race for the Golden Baton of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015, the U.S. won with 63 points, Jamaica finished second with 46 points and Poland rounded off the top three countries with 34 points.
The 2015 world relays is now over, but Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium was buzzing with excitement throughout the two days of competition. What a way to end the newest addition to the IAAF global calendar last night.
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