SILVER RUN
T&T finish in style at World Relays
By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: May 27, 2014 at 12:26 AM ECTTrinidad and Tobago’s IAAF World Relays assignment was completed in style at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, here in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday night, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Rondel Sorrillo and Richard “Torpedo” Thompson finishing second in the men’s 4x100 metres final.
The T&T quartet clocked 38.04 seconds, Thompson completing the job that was started by Bledman and continued by Burns and Sorrillo.
Jamaica continued their global dominance in the event, Yohan Blake anchoring the team to victory in 37.77 Great Britain anchor Dwain Chambers crossed the line third, earning his team bronze in 38.19.
Earlier, T&T (38.09) had finished second to Great Britain (37.93) in the first of three qualifying heats, both teams progressing automatically to the championship race.
After the final, Thompson praised Bledman for a fine leadoff leg. He also acknowledged the work done by Burns on the back straight and Sorrillo on the third leg.
“Marc was injured last year so we fit him right back in the team, and as usual Marc is Mr Reliable. He always gives us a good leg. Bledman is good out of the hole. And Sorrillo, I don’t want to say he’s a new addition to the team, but it’s his first big final and he handled it like a champion. We’re just proud of today’s run.
“The team put me in a position to strike,” anchorman Thompson continued. “They always put me in a position to be able to bring the medal home for the team.”
The “Torpedo” blazed on the home straight, overhauling Chambers to turn bronze into silver.
Bledman told the Express the return of Burns was a big boost for the team.
“It gave our team confidence. Went out there, trusted each other, with God. I know these four guys here, we could do it. I believe in them.”
Burns, the ultimate team man, was thrilled to be back in a red, white and black uniform.
“From since we got here, the camaraderie was top notch, and the guys just gelled together. We came out here to just do it for Trinidad and Tobago.”
While Bledman, Burns and Thompson are multiple relay medallists on the world stage, Sunday’s silver was the first-ever global podium finish for Sorrillo.
“I’m extremely elated. They welcomed me, and I took my opportunity.”
T&T’s campaign at the very first edition of the IAAF World Relays was a huge success.
The women’s 4x100m team opened the account with bronze. The men’s 4x400m quartet followed up with a bronze of their own in a national record time of two minutes, 58.34 seconds, before Thompson and company put the icing on the cake with men’s sprint relay silver.
The three top-three finishes gave T&T a combined total of 19 points, and sixth spot on the standings.
United States were the top team on show with 60 points, while Jamaica (41) and Kenya (35) were second and third, respectively. Great Britain (24) finished fourth, and Australia (21), fifth.