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IAAF World Relays Men's Preview

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   May 22nd 2014, 4:41pm
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Jamaican Men Heavy Favorites in the Sprints

Published by the IAAF on May 22, 2014

With 36 different countries entering men’s teams in at least one of the five relays at the inaugural IAAF World Relays, picking potential highlights is close to impossible.

World champions are present from the shortest race – Yohan Blake highlights the Jamaican 4x100m squad, current world record-holders – to the longest, with Asbel Kiprop just one of the top-tier milers on Kenya’s 4x1500m quartet.

Before looking at the front of the races, though, it’s worthwhile to notice some of the others. Bermuda’s 4x800m squad, for example, is a novelty not often seen by a global audience; likewise Mexico’s.

In addition to their stellar middle-distance runners, Kenya has a 4x200m quartet entered; in fact, of the five races, Kenya has entered men in all but the 4x100m. Ukraine has managed to put up a 4x100m squad. And Papua New Guinea is entered in the 4x200m as well.

With only the 4x100m and 4x400m contested at global championships, three of the five races are likely to see a forest of national records chopped down as rarely-run events see competition of a sort not seen before.

The depth of entries in the championship distances is no doubt due to the offer of automatic qualification to the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing for the first eight teams across the line; most countries with only one or two teams entered have chosen those races, although Ethiopia is one exception.

4x100m

Calling Jamaica the heavy favourites in the short relay is something of an understatement. The team in gold and green own the past three world titles, the past two Olympic titles, and the world record (36.84).

For the first time, Jamaica will build its squad around 2011 world champion Yohan Blake, but their depth is such that any of their legs – Oshane Bailey, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nesta Carter, Andrew Fisher and Michael Frater round out the pool – could be global semi-finalists.



Read the full article at: www.iaaf.org

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