JAMAICA WORLD RECORD: Female sprint team cops 4X100m in World-leading 42.81 secs....Team of Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart, Anneisha McLaughlin and Tricia Hawthorne

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer  Sunday, April 27, 2014    

(From left) Jamaica’s Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart,
 Anneisha McLaughlin and Tricia Hawthorne wave to
 the crowd while holding their watches after winning
the women’s 4X100m in a World-leading 42.81 seconds
 on yesterday's final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival
 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. (PHOTOS/COLLIN REID
 courtesy VMBS & TEAM JAMAICA BICKLE)

PHILADELPHIA, USA — The Jamaican female sprint relay team sent a strong message that they will be hard to beat at next month's inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in The Bahamas after retaining the event in a World-leading 42.81 seconds on yesterday's final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

In a repeat of last year, this was the solitary win for the Jamaicans as they managed two second-place finishes, a third and a fourth place in their other events, despite a large and loud Jamaican contingent in the stands.

With two members of the team that won gold at last year's IAAF World Championships on the first two legs, Carrie Russell and Kerron Stewart, the Jamaican team outclassed the small field with the United States taking second, well back in 43.15 seconds with Trinidad and Tobago third in 43.35 seconds and Brazil fourth in 43.77 seconds.

Anneisha McLaughlin ran the third leg, while Trisha-Ann Hawthorne ran the anchor leg holding off the USA's LaKeisha Lawson to send the pack grandstand here into wild celebrations.

The men's team that included veteran Michael Frater on his customary second leg failed to replicate the success of the females as they were beaten on the line by 100th of a second by the USA team 38.57 seconds to 38.58 seconds, the two fastest times of the year so far.

Jamaica's anchor leg runner Oshane Bailey just failed to get the USA's Walter Dix on the line.

Jason Livermore led off the Jamaican team, handing off to Frater, while Rasheed Dwyer ran the third leg.

Disappointing anchor legs in the women's Sprint Medley and 4x400m Relays cost Jamaica wins as they led after the first three legs.

Natoya Goule was passed on the 800m leg of the SMR by the USA's Ajee Wilson as the Americans won in 3:37.94 minutes to Jamaica's 3:38.41 with the Caribbean All-Stars taking third. more