T&T's 4x400 metres Men's Relay team of Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Asa Guevara and Lalonde Gordon produced a new National Indoor Record time at 3:02.52 in the final at the IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, England yesterday.
However, the quartet failed to be among the medals, finishing fourth despite making two changes to the team that qualified for the finals.
Renny Quow and Machel Cedenio, known for their never-say-die attitude in the one-lap event, had to make way for the in-form Guevara and Deon Lendore in the final which paid dividends as they improved on the 3:05.96 seconds they ran the day before. However, it was not enough to stop a polished Poland team of Karol Zalewski, Rafat Omelko, Tukasz Krawezuk and Jakub Krzewina from sprinting to the gold medal in a new world indoor record in a time of 3:01.77 seconds.
The United States team of Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Aldrich Bailey Jr and Vernon Norwood secured the silver medal in a season's best time of 3:01.97, while Belgium four-man team of Dylan Borlee, Jonathan Borlee, Jonathan Sacoor and Kevin Borlee took the bronze medal with a national indoor record time of 3:02.51 seconds.
Jamaica disqualified
Jamaica crossed the line in second place but was soon disqualified with an athlete in the incorrect order when waiting to receive the baton.
That saw Poland claim the silver with a national indoor record of 3:26.09 with Britain third in 3:29.38.
The race triggered a blizzard of appeals.
Jamaica appealed against its disqualification, while Ukraine asked for Poland to be disqualified and Poland claimed the U.S. should be as well — both for stepping on the kerb.
All three appeals were rejected.
Britain was initially disqualified for obstruction but successfully appealed.
Elsewhere, world record holder Renaud Lavillenie won the world indoors pole vault for a third time, but it was his first significant title in two years after an injury-hit season last year.
Lavillenie was clearly emotional on the podium after being the only competitor to clear 5.90 meters. American Sam Kendricks was second, ahead of Poland's Piotr Lisek after both cleared 5.85 in a competition which lasted more than three hours.
Poland sets world indoor record in 4x400-meter relay, US 2nd
WALTER ALIBEY