The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The International Amateur Athletic Federation’s inaugural World Relays not only got tremendous coverage last year, but the IAAF is making sure that it remains in the minds of many more viewers this year, who may not have been able to view the two-day meet in person.

The World Relays are featured prominently in the IAAF’s calendar for 2015.

Against the backdrop of the western side of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, a photo depicting two relay runners from Trinidad & Tobago exchanging the baton in the women’s 4 x 400 metre relay is displayed in the month of May. Romona Modeste accepts the baton from Magnolia Howell on the final leg of the women’s B final.

Unfortunately, Trinidad & Tobago ended up in fourth place in the relay in a time of three minutes and 33.21 seconds. The B final was won by Australia in 3:31.01 as they held off the Bahamas team of Lanece Clarke, Christine Amertil, Shakeitha Henfield and Miriam Byfield, who ran a season’s best of 3:31.71 for second place.

The United States won the A final in a championship time of 3:21.73 for the gold. The silver went to Jamaica in 3:23.26 and Nigeria got the bronze in 3:23.41, both season best performances.

In the background are the large contingent of Bahamian fans, the majority wearing their gold tops. The front cover of the calendar also features a female competitor in the starting blocks at the relays.

The IAAF is preparing for the return of the second version of the Relays, which has been dubbed: “Bahamazing” by a United Kingdom journalist, who had indicated in his magazine ‘Spike’ that it was the most successful meet he ever witnessed. This year’s meet is scheduled for May 2-3.

There are a few changes with the starting times on both days moved from 5pm to 7pm to accommodate the fans who were affected by the scorching heat in the eastern section of the stands - the 4 x 1,500 metres has been replaced by the sprint medley (400, 800, 1,200 and 1,500m) and the 4 x 400m relays will bring the curtain down on the competition.

Last year, the Kenyan men and women broke both the 4 x 1,500m world records. Another world record was achieved by the Jamaican men’s 4 x 200m team minus Usain Bolt, but featured Yohan Blake and Warren Weir.

This year’s organising committee of Keith Parker, Mike Sands, Lionel Haven, Simon Wilson, Lynden Maycock, Grafton Ifill, Drumaco Archer, Calvin Balfour, Carl Oliver, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Rommel Knowles and Leroy Archer are planning to put on an event that they are confident will surpass the initial one.

While the top eight teams in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays earned automatic berths in the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, August 22-30, the top eight finishers this year will qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5-21.