Shock exit for Jamaican men in 4X100m at World Relays

NASSAU, Bahamas:

Jamaica, one of the hot pre-meet favourites for the men's 4x100 metres, suffered a shock exit from the event at the IAAF-BTC World Relays in the Bahamas last night.

A terrible mix-up on the second leg between incoming runner Kemar Bailey-Coley and Jevaughn Minzie ended with the baton falling in heat one of the event.

The Jamaican quartet got off to a brilliant start when Everton Clarke outsprinted his rivals to hand over to Bailey-Cole. However, Bailey-Cole failed to connect with third man Minzie and the baton fell to the blue track, stunning the many Jamaican fans in the stands.

The event was won by the Netherlands in 38.71 ahead of the Republic of China (38.97) and Australia (39.09).

TOP TEAM

Jamaica was one of the top teams entering the meet. They won at the first meet in 2014 and were second in 2015 behind the United States.

First-leg runner Clarke said the team was very disappointed.

"We are disappointed because we came out with a lot of confidence and we really wanted to make it into the final," Clarke said. "It is just of those things because in the relays, you have to carry the baton around and we failed to do so today."

Minzie labelled it a terrible mix-up.

"I can't blame anyone because it was just a terrible mix up on the third leg. We know that we would have won this race, but it wasn't to be for us today."

Meanwhile, in the women's 4x400 metres, Jamaica qualified for today's final when they placed second to Poland in the third and final heat. Jamaica clocked a season's best 3:29.93 with Poland winning in 3:29.42. The United States clocked the fastest time, 3:29.27, in winning heat one.

The Jamaican team in running order was Christine Day, Janieve Russell, Dawnalee Loney and team captain Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby.