Jamaica, we large!

JAMAICA won two gold medals and a silver, topped the medal table, and broke a world record twice at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana — a performance Technical Leader Maurice Wilson said was above expectations for most people.

“As a team, I think [they] basically performed more than many persons would have expected. It has been a very long road in trying to put together a structure for the relays,” he told the Jamaica Observer at the end of Sunday’s final day.

“You know, I want to thank a number of coaches who have been very facilitating. Stephen Francis, Glen Mills, Paul Francis, who put in a lot of work. Of course, Michael Frater and the entire coaching staff that was here; Mark Elliott; Renaldo Walcott. We were able to do what we had to [in order to] make the best use of it,” Wilson added.

“We have come to a point now where, really, practise is becoming a significant part of our preparations. It is going to require resources and good management. I’m hoping that the JAAA [Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association] will be able to get the support that is needed from sponsors because all the other countries have found a way to try to be as good or better than we [have been] over the last couple of years,” said Wilson.

“Having recognised this, there is a particular process and structure that is in place to make sure that we are always highly competitive. The team did well. We had four teams qualifying out of six,” he noted.

Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah turned back the clock with a scintillating anchor as Jamaica won two gold and a silver at the World Athletics Relays, including a world record run as Jamaica topped the medal table in Botswana on Sunday.

Jamaica walked away with at least US$150,000 ($23.5 million) in prize monies for the two gold medals and the silver, which will be shared amongst the athletes.

Jamaica’s 4×100 mixed relay team got one payment of US$50,000 for the world record, despite breaking it twice, and US$40,000 for gold. The women’s 4×100 team collected US$40,000, and the 4×400 mixed relay team got US$20,000 for silver.

Jamaica also topped the medals table with three medals, the same as the United States of America. But Jamaica’s two gold and silver compared to the USA’s two gold and a bronze pushed them into first place. Botswana and Norway were tied for third with a gold each.

Thompson-Herah, who rested in the heats on Saturday, produced a sterling anchor leg after getting the baton metres behind Canada’s Donna Ntambue, turned on the afterburners — reminiscent of her glory years — and propelled Jamaica to gold in 42.00 seconds.

Jamaica made two changes to the team that won their heats in 41.96 as Shericka Jackson was replaced on the opening leg by Briana Williams, and Thompson-Herah came in for Jonielle Smith.

Jamaica’s Briana Williams celebrates the team’s gold medal win in the women’s 4x100m relay final during the World Athletics Relays, on Sunday.

Canada secured the silver medal in clocking 42.17, which was a national record, while Spain snatched bronze with 42.31.

Thompson, who recently returned to action, was quoted by World Athletics after racing in her first major international event since the 2023 World Championships.

“I’m grateful that I crossed the line healthy. Coming down the home straight, I felt like my leg was heavy — like a hamstring [issue] — but I knew that I had to bring the team home because we were looking forward to that,” said Thompson-Herah.

“We came here in high spirits, and I’m satisfied to walk away with the gold. I came here hungry for more and it worked out perfectly,” she added.

Earlier, Jamaica won the first gold of the meet when they were victorious in the 4×100 mixed relays, lowering their own world record in 39.62.

Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton stormed to their second mixed 4x100m world record in two days. Canada took silver in 40.23 and the United States of America grabbed the bronze in 40.33.

The top six teams automatically secured their spots for the Ultimate Championship — Jamaica, Canada and USA joined by Germany, Spain and Nigeria — while all the finalists had already qualified for World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 by safely advancing from the heats.

Jamaica also picked up silver in the 4×400 mixed relays as the quartet of Deandre Watkins (44.81), Shana Jaye Anderson (49.77), Antonio Watson (43.87) and Rushell Clayton (49.79) clocked 3:08.24, which was a national record.

It was the fastest a Jamaican team has ever run, with Watson splitting a splendid 43.87 on the third leg.

The USA won in 3:07.47 as Jenoah McKiver threw down a 43.50 split and held off Watson. Bronze went to Great Britain in 3:09.84.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s men’s 4×100 team qualified for the World Championships after winning heat two of the repechage race in 38.14. Rohan Watson, Odaine McPherson, Adrian Kerr and Rasheed Foster ran a much better race. On Saturday, they ran 38.08 when finishing fourth.

Belgium was second in 38.40 which was a new national record, while Nigeria was third in 38.50.

But there were no such luck for the 4×400 teams as they failed to finish in the top two to book their World Championship spots.

The male team of Assinie Wilson (46.28), Jeremy Bembridge (45.01), Jevaughn Powell (45.17) and Rheem Hayles (45.17) stopped the clock at 3:01.63 for third. The race was won by Senegal in 3:01.28 with Spain second with 3:01.37.

The women’s team of Leah Anderson (51.72), Shiann Salmon (51.52), Janielle Joseph (51.76) and Rushell Clayton (50.38) was third in 3:25.38 in heat one. The race was won by Ireland in 3:23.83, ahead of France with 3:24.48.

Jamaica’s time was faster than heat two winner Poland, which did 3:26.52 ahead of Australia, 3:26.92 — but both qualified for the World Championship while Jamaica will have to try again.

Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton (left) chases Bailey Lear of the United States in the mixed 4x400m relay final during the World Athletics Relays on Sunday.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah (left) displays the national flag as she celebrates with fans after victory in the women’s 4x100m relay final during the World Athletics Relays at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, on Sunday. Photos: AFP

WILSON… it has been a very long road in trying to put together a structure for the relays