British bronze in men's sprint relay behind runaway Canadians
The British men’s sprint relay team will enjoy a podium moment in Paris just three years after losing their medals after CJ Ujah’s drugs positive in Tokyo.
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Zharnel Hughes were part of that quartet in 2021 and they combined here with Jeremiah Azu and Louie Hinchliffe to take bronze in 37.61.
Gold went to Canada, though, in 37.50 from South Africa in an African record of 37.57.
One of the big stories of the race, however, was the disqualification of the United States team.
Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek had a terrible changeover on the first leg when Coleman ran into the back of his team-mate.
Bednarek’s second exchange to Kyree King was better but by then the damage was done and Fred Kerley had too much work to do on the anchor. Finishing seventh, they then had the indignity of a DQ.
Coleman said: “We practiced a lot. Me and Kenny have been competitors but also team-mates a few times over the years. We felt really confident going out there. In the heat of the moment, it just didn’t happen out there.”
Canada were the most solid and slickest team as Aaron Brown handed to Jerome Blake then Brendan Rodney and De Grasse.
The South African quartet of Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi (running against his training partner Hinchliffe), Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine almost took victory but it was not to be.
Hughes also enjoyed a brilliant final leg for Britain after taking the baton from Mitchell-Blake, but had a little too much work to do.
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