LONDON, England (CMC) — Lalonde Gordon ran a spectacular last leg as Trinidad and Tobago stunned the United States to crown themselves men’s 4×400 metres relay champions on the final night of the 16th IAAF World Championships here on Sunday.
The Americans led for most of the race before Gordon, who received the baton some five metres behind Fred Kerley, dramatically overtook his rival in the last 50 metres to clinch top honours for the Caribbean team in a world-leading and national record two minutes, 58.12 seconds.
USA finished with silver in a season’s best 2:58.61, while Great Britain also ran a season’s best 2:59.00 to end with bronze.
“It was a big motivation to come here and win — give it big,” said Jarrin Solomon who led off the race.
“We knew and we made sure that we set up the team correctly. We worked so hard and it means so much to our team. It has a special sweet taste for us this year.”
Jereem Richards, who won bronze in the 200m earlier in the week, said his job on the second leg was just to go out and “make sure we have the chance to execute well on the last leg”.
Machel Cedenio was brilliant on the third leg, closing the gap on American Michael Cherry to ensure Gordon entered the last leg well poised.
“I feel just grateful now. I think it was the best experience of all my career,” Cedenio said.
Earlier in the women’s equivalent, Jamaica suffered disappointment when they failed to finish after Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby pulled up on the second leg.
USA won the event in 3:19.02, ahead of Great Britain (3:25.00) and Poland (3:25.41).
