by Larry Eder
Jessica Beard to Francena McCorory, 2011 WC 4 x 400m final, photo by PhotoRun.net
The women’s 4 x 400m relay was a stunning race. On the final leg, Francena McCorory gave it all she had and held off the Jamaican and Russian teams, among others. Elliott Denman wrote this piece about the race, the team and the electricity in the stadium during the race:
By ELLIOTT DENMAN
The rookie ran her anchor lap like a veteran pro.
And
that’s a very big reason why Team USA’s quartet reigns as gold medalist
in the women’s 4×00 relay at the 13th World Championships of Track and
Field.
Francena McCorory, 2011 WC 4 x 400m final leg, photo by PhotoRun.net
that’s a very big reason why Team USA’s quartet reigns as gold medalist
in the women’s 4×00 relay at the 13th World Championships of Track and
Field.
Francena McCorory, 2011 WC 4 x 400m final leg, photo by PhotoRun.netYes indeed, for Francena McCorory it was a Saturday night to remember for the ages.
Hampton University alumna McCorory “brought home the bacon,” clinching Team
USA’s women’s 4×400 title in a golden 3:18.09, best time in the world
this year and seventh best in all of track and field history.
USA’s women’s 4×400 title in a golden 3:18.09, best time in the world
this year and seventh best in all of track and field history.
Sure
she’d set the still-standing national high school indoor 400 record
(51.93) back in her days at Bethel, Va. HS. And that one came on the
flat track at Landover, Md..
she’d set the still-standing national high school indoor 400 record
(51.93) back in her days at Bethel, Va. HS. And that one came on the
flat track at Landover, Md..
Sure
she’d won NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 titles for Hampton, and lowered
the American indoor 400 record (which Diane Dixon had held for 19 years)
to 50.54.
she’d won NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 titles for Hampton, and lowered
the American indoor 400 record (which Diane Dixon had held for 19 years)
to 50.54.
Sure she’d run second in the 2011 USATF Outdoor Nationals to clinch her ticket to the Worlds.
But the relay final performance was something very-very-very else.
McCorory
had run a frustrating fourth in the individual 400 meters four days
earlier, clocking a 50.45, just 21/100ths out of medal range.
had run a frustrating fourth in the individual 400 meters four days
earlier, clocking a 50.45, just 21/100ths out of medal range.
However, with the baton in her hand, and a flying start, it was a very different story.
Sanya Richards-Ross, opening leg, 2011 WC 4 x 400m, photo by PhotoRun.net
Sanya Richards-Ross, opening leg, 2011 WC 4 x 400m, photo by PhotoRun.netHer
anchor split was a brilliant 49.51 and wrapped up a big win over
Jamaica (3:18.71) and Russia (3:19.36), with Great Britain (3:23.63),
Ukraine (3:23.86) and Belarus (3:25.64) trailing.
anchor split was a brilliant 49.51 and wrapped up a big win over
Jamaica (3:18.71) and Russia (3:19.36), with Great Britain (3:23.63),
Ukraine (3:23.86) and Belarus (3:25.64) trailing.
Team USA led at every baton exchange. Former
World 400 champion Sanya Richards-Ross opened with a 49.30, two-time
World 200 champion Allyson Felix followed in 49.33, Jessica Beard
solidified the lead with a 49.95, and McCorory did the rest.
World 400 champion Sanya Richards-Ross opened with a 49.30, two-time
World 200 champion Allyson Felix followed in 49.33, Jessica Beard
solidified the lead with a 49.95, and McCorory did the rest.
“The others are all veterans of the World
Championships, but I’m just a rookie,” said McCorory, all smiles, still
draped in the American flag. “So I was totally honored getting to run
anchor. It was the biggest honor of my track and field career. I ran a
hard first 300 and just brought it in.
Championships, but I’m just a rookie,” said McCorory, all smiles, still
draped in the American flag. “So I was totally honored getting to run
anchor. It was the biggest honor of my track and field career. I ran a
hard first 300 and just brought it in.
“Sure I was disappointed with my individual 400
at Worlds, but God works in mysterious ways. I got another chance, in
the relay, and that truly was a blessing.”
at Worlds, but God works in mysterious ways. I got another chance, in
the relay, and that truly was a blessing.”
It will also serve as a huge
confidence-builder. McCorory will now be a strong contender for a place
on the 2012 Olympic team, with its double-medal possibilities in
London, individual race and relay.
confidence-builder. McCorory will now be a strong contender for a place
on the 2012 Olympic team, with its double-medal possibilities in
London, individual race and relay.
Beard, too, has had difficulties in individual
racing at Worlds. Like McCorory, Beard (a recent Texas A&M grad)
had won NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 crowns. But back in 2009 in Berlin
and here again in Beijing, she failed to reach the 400 final.
racing at Worlds. Like McCorory, Beard (a recent Texas A&M grad)
had won NCAA indoor and outdoor 400 crowns. But back in 2009 in Berlin
and here again in Beijing, she failed to reach the 400 final.
There was happiness all around as the American women made their victory tour a lap of joy.
For Richards-Ross and Felix, it was the third
straight time they’d helped Team USA win the 4×400 at Worlds. They ran
with Deedee Trotter and Mary Wineberg winning in 3:18.55 at Osaka in
2007. They teamed with Debbie Dunn and Lashinda Demus to take golds in
3:17.83 at Berlin in 2009.
straight time they’d helped Team USA win the 4×400 at Worlds. They ran
with Deedee Trotter and Mary Wineberg winning in 3:18.55 at Osaka in
2007. They teamed with Debbie Dunn and Lashinda Demus to take golds in
3:17.83 at Berlin in 2009.
And, specially noteworthy for Felix, it was a ninth career medal at Worlds…with a 10th possible Sunday night in the 4×100,
Jearl Miles-Clark’s nine medals had been all
alone as the previous USA women’s high at Worlds. Only Merlene Ottey of
Jamaica – now of Slovenia – with 14, has ever won more.
alone as the previous USA women’s high at Worlds. Only Merlene Ottey of
Jamaica – now of Slovenia – with 14, has ever won more.
Richards-Ross’s leadoff leg was a volunteer role. Usually, she’s an anchorwoman.
“I asked Jon Drummond (USA relay coach) if I
could run first leg and he said yes,” said SRR, wife of Giants’
cornerback Aaron Ross.
could run first leg and he said yes,” said SRR, wife of Giants’
cornerback Aaron Ross.
“I wanted the opportunity to run out of the
blocks. We had a lot of faith in our youngsters, and knew that we were
going to get them a lead. I’m really proud of them.
blocks. We had a lot of faith in our youngsters, and knew that we were
going to get them a lead. I’m really proud of them.
“All my teammates ran great tonight, and I was proud to be a part of this team.”
“This is a great team, and we have so much depth,” said Felix.
” It was all about holding on to the lead
tonight. We felt confident that Sanya could run a great leadoff leg. We
just wanted to hold on, and Sanya made it easy on us. “
tonight. We felt confident that Sanya could run a great leadoff leg. We
just wanted to hold on, and Sanya made it easy on us. “
“Me and Fran (McCorory) knew we were the young ones, and the veterans set us up so well,” said Beard,
“I knew with the lead they gave us I had to at
least maintain it or open it up for Fran. I just wanted to leave
everything out there on the track.
least maintain it or open it up for Fran. I just wanted to leave
everything out there on the track.
“There was a lot of hype because Russia ran 3:22
in the semis. We just went out there and represented Team USA, and I
don’t think anybody can ask for anything more.”
Allyson Felix, Jessica Beard, Francena McCorory, Sanya Richards-Ross, 2011 WC 4x400m, gold medalist, US team, photo by PhotoRun.net
in the semis. We just went out there and represented Team USA, and I
don’t think anybody can ask for anything more.”
Allyson Felix, Jessica Beard, Francena McCorory, Sanya Richards-Ross, 2011 WC 4x400m, gold medalist, US team, photo by PhotoRun.net###
