2017 IAAF World ChampionshipsAug 13, 2017 by Jennifer Zahn
Trinidad & Tobago Upsets U.S. For Men's 4x400m World Title
Trinidad & Tobago Upsets U.S. For Men's 4x400m World Title
In a shocking outcome for the historically dominant U.S. men's 4x400m relay team, Trinidad & Tobago's Lalonde Gordon surged ahead of Team USA's anchor Fred Kerley in the final 100 meters to claim his country's first-ever gold medal in the event.
In a shocking outcome for the historically dominant U.S. men's 4x400m relay team, Trinidad and Tobago downed Team USA today in the final round of the 2017 IAAF World Championships to claim their country's first-ever gold medal in the event.
Wil London, a rising junior at Baylor, kicked off the relay well for Team USA with the crew's fastest split, 44.08, and handed off the baton to veteran Gil Roberts with the lead. But Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards, who sprints for Alabama and won bronze in the 200m earlier this week, made a bold move on the final turn to challenge Roberts down the homestretch. Although he didn't have enough energy to take the lead, he put his team right behind the U.S. and in the hunt for first.
A monster leg by Machel Cedenio made Trinidad and Tobago dead-even with the U.S. at the final handoff, and then it was NCAA 400m record-holder Kerley against the 28-year-old Gordon. The latter outlasted Kerley, who began to fade within the final 10 meters. Gordon brought the team through the line in 2:58.12, a new 2017 world lead.
The race marked Team USA's first loss at the world championships in the men's 4x400m relay since 2003. What's even more incredible about the upset is Trinidad and Tobago didn't land any athletes on the 2017 top 20 list in the 400m, while the U.S. has nine.
Final Results:
Wil London, a rising junior at Baylor, kicked off the relay well for Team USA with the crew's fastest split, 44.08, and handed off the baton to veteran Gil Roberts with the lead. But Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards, who sprints for Alabama and won bronze in the 200m earlier this week, made a bold move on the final turn to challenge Roberts down the homestretch. Although he didn't have enough energy to take the lead, he put his team right behind the U.S. and in the hunt for first.
A monster leg by Machel Cedenio made Trinidad and Tobago dead-even with the U.S. at the final handoff, and then it was NCAA 400m record-holder Kerley against the 28-year-old Gordon. The latter outlasted Kerley, who began to fade within the final 10 meters. Gordon brought the team through the line in 2:58.12, a new 2017 world lead.
The race marked Team USA's first loss at the world championships in the men's 4x400m relay since 2003. What's even more incredible about the upset is Trinidad and Tobago didn't land any athletes on the 2017 top 20 list in the 400m, while the U.S. has nine.
What makes Trinidad's win over USA in the 4x4 even more impressive?
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 13, 2017
400m Top 20 World Descending Order List:
USA: 9 men
T&T: 0 men
Team USA's splits:
Team USA's 4x4 splits:
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 13, 2017
44.08 Wilbert LONDON III
44.90 Gil ROBERTS
44.87 Michael CHERRY
44.76 Fred KERLEY#London2017
Final Results:
