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Solidifying their position as the strongest relay nation in the world, the USA collected their third successive Golden Baton honour at the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017.
2017 Golden Baton winners, USA – IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 Photo: Getty Images
The US won five of the nine events over the two-day programme, took silver in a pair and third in another to tally 60 points, 21 ahead of Jamaica who totalled 39.
The Golden Baton is awarded to the team who accrues the most points, based on the simple scoring system of eight points for first place down to one point for finishing eighth.
Australia was third with 24, edging Poland by just one point.
The USA won the men’s 4x800m, and men’s and women’s 4x400m, on the final day, but for the vociferous crowd that gathered in Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson Stadium, the highlight was the resounding victory by a Bahamian quartet in the mixed 4x400m relay that capped the thoroughly entertaining evening.
BAHAMIAN FIREWORKS IN THE MIXED 4X400M
National 400m record holder Steven Gardiner, Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu teamed for a victory that electrified the crowd who left the stadium singing choruses of their national anthem. Gardiner and Miller-Uibo packed a strong 1-2 punch, building a sizable lead that was the foundation of their triumph. While Strachan was reeled in by Paul Dedewo of the US, she held her own, leaving Mathieu in strong position as he embarked on the anchor leg. He hauled in USA anchor Claudia Francis midway through the final bend, again setting the crowd alight as he cruised towards the finish line.
Source: Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
