Jamaica’s women’s 4×100 metres team decimated the field on their way to taking the sprint relay gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Friday (6 Aug).
The Jamaicans were favourite in the final, despite finishing third in their heat, which did not include gold and silver medallists from the 100 metres Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
The quartet, which consisted of Briana Williams, Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, ran a national record of 41.02 seconds to defeat the USA, who ran a season’s best 41.45 seconds.
After their gold medal performance, the Jamaican ladies spoke about the race. Olympic Games debutant Briana Williams stated that the focus was to get the baton around. “Was just to get out good and get the stick to Elaine (ran 2nd leg).”
Thompson-Herah acknowledged that the race wasn’t perfect, but they wanted to get the baton around. She also praised her teammates, “It wasn’t perfect, but we managed to take the stick around. Thank these three ladies for giving me this third gold medal.”
Third leg runner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hoped the team would get the world record but was happy with the national record. “As an elite athlete, I was ready for the opportunity to carry the stick around. We got the national record, but we didn’t get the world record we wanted.”
Fraser-Pryce added: “We wanted for Elaine to get the three gold medals, and we did that.”
Anchor leg runner Shericka Jackson who also anchored Jamaica to Gold in Doha 2019 also wanted the world record but was happy for the national record.
“I just wanted to break the world record; we wanted the world record, but we got the national record, so we are happy.”
All four ladies sent congratulatory messages of Happy Independence to Jamaica.
The Jamaican men sprint relay team finished in fifth with a time of 37.84 seconds. The men’s team, unchanged from the heats, comprised Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake, and Oblique Seville.
Italy won the race in 37.50 seconds which was the first time in over 70 years that the Italians were getting a medal in the sprint relay. Second place went to the United Kingdom in a season’s best of 37.51 seconds. In third place, Canada was also in a season’s best of 37.70 seconds. China was fourth with a national record of 37.79 seconds.
You women has surely made independence day something to celebrate.
Congrats for a job well done.
For those that did not medal, you can’t win the race if you not in the race. you all have made us proud
Welldone Jamaica
Brianna gave them a lightning start! Wow! A good medalist at 19. Definitely has a bright future.