Rio Olympics 2016, Athletics: Jamaica qualify for finals 4x100m relay without Usain Bolt, USA wins heat
The men’s 4x100m relay event did not see Usain Bolt featuring in the event, but Jamaica managed to qualify for the finals of the event as they had Asafa Powell in their ranks. The top spot was occupied by USA, who had their star man Tyson Gay in their ranks, for Round 1 of the event which was held at the Olympic Stadium in Rio.
Qualification criteria
The top three finishers of each heat automatically qualify for the final. Following that, the two other fastest relay teams move to the finals of the event.
Heat 1
In what was to be the only team event for Usain Bolt at the Olympic Games, the Jamaican surprisingly did not participate in the event for his island nation. However, it was Jevaughn Minzie, Asafa Powell, Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole who were the four men who participated for the nation in Heat 2 of the men’s 4x100m relay event at the Olympic Games.
Dominican Republic were disqualified at the start for a false start which made it a touch easier for the other seven countries to grab a place, as the first three finishers qualify. In Heat 1, it was the United States of America who were inspired by Tyson Gay as they finished first with a timing of 37.65 after having started with a reaction time of 0.194 seconds.
The second spot in the heat went to China, who finished with a timing of 37.82 as they took a reaction time of 0.151.
It was Canada’s Akeem Haynes, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Mobolade Ajomale who occupied the last and third spot in Heat 1 of Round 1 in the men’s 4x100m relay event, as they finished with a timing of 37.89.
Heat 2
However, in Heat 2, it was Jamaica who faced a setback after the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt was missing from their team. As the heat started, all eyes were on Jamaica but it was Japan who took the early lead and went on to finish as the fastest relay team with a timing of 37.68 as they took a reaction time of 0.144.
The second spot was occupied by the favourites Jamaica who finished with a timing of 37.94 in their heat. The last spot of the heat was occupied by Trinidad and Tobago as they finished with a timing of 37.96.
The two fastest losers, Great Britain and hosts Brazil, qualified for the finals with their timings of 38.06 and 38.19 respectively. The former finished the sprint with their season best timing and the latter made their fans happy by springing a surprise. Here is the list of the countries who are through to the final of the men’s event:
1 USA – 37.65
2 Japan – 37.68
3 China – 37.82
4 Canada – 37.89
5 Jamaica – 37.94
6 Trinidad and Tobago – 37.96
7 Great Britain – 38.06
8 Brazil – 38.19
Heat 1
In the women’s event, it was Jamaica who continued their dominance as they finished Heat 1 at first with a timing of 41.79 whereas the second spot was occupied by Great Britain with a timing of 41.93. Ukraine occupied the third spot with a timing of 42.49.
Heat 2
In Heat 2, it was Germany who finished top with a timing of 42.18 as Nigeria finished second with a timing of 42.55. Trinidad and Tobago managed to finish as third with their timing of 42.62.
It was Canada and China who finished as the two fastest losers to qualify for the finals with an identical timing of 42.70. Here is the list of the 8 countries who have qualified for the finals of the women’s event:
1 Jamaica – 41.79
2 Great Britain – 41.93
3 Germany – 42.18
4 Ukraine – 42.49
5 Nigeria – 42.55
6 Trinidad and Tobago – 42.62
7 Canada – 42.70
8 China – 42.70