Barring disqualification (2000), one boycott (1980) and one
withdrawal (1972), the last time USA failed to win the Olympic 4x400m title was
60 years ago at the 1952 games, but they may face one of their strongest challenges
in the shape of the Bahamas tonight.
For the first time ever, no American started in the 400m
final, and while that can be explained by the injury
to LaShawn Merritt in the heats, they are also without Jeremy Warnier, ran the
third leg in 2004 and the anchor leg in 2008 in victories by the Americans,
which leaves them short of class and experience in equal measure. Thanks in
large part to the heroics of Manteo Mitchell (who ran with a broken leg but
refused to pull up), Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum made it to
the final but they’ll be without Mitchell, which leaves them looking towards
reserves for the final tonight.
For the first time ever, no American started in the 400m
final, and while that can be explained by the injury
to LaShawn Merritt in the heats, they are also without Jeremy Warnier, ran the
third leg in 2004 and the anchor leg in 2008 in victories by the Americans,
which leaves them short of class and experience in equal measure. Thanks in
large part to the heroics of Manteo Mitchell (who ran with a broken leg but
refused to pull up), Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum made it to
the final but they’ll be without Mitchell, which leaves them looking towards
reserves for the final tonight.
The Bahamas - silver medallists 4 years ago - just got the
better of the USA in their heat, look settled and happy with their 4 (three of
their squad having posted sub-45 clockings this year, including 400m finalist
Chris Brown), safe with the baton, and ready to throw down a great challenge,
so in a two horse race, they have to be the choice at 5/2 compared to 8/15.
The bronze medal position looks to be a straight shootout between
four teams, with World Championship bronze medalists Jamaica having failed to
make the final on account of Jermaine
Gonzales pulling up with an injury in the third leg of their heat. Great Britain –who posted the fastest ever
non-medal-winning time in any athletics championships in history 4 years ago 0
are interesting medal shouts if Jack Green runs a leg as fast as he did in the
heats – where Marytn Rooney said that he eased down significantly late – then they
may well take bronze ahead of Trinidada and Tobago, although they are missing Renny
Quow, who tugged his hamstring before the individual 400 finals. GB can be
backed at 11/8 for what would essentially be third spot ahead of the Islanders,
and that’s interesting although that’s not as tempting as the 5/2 on the
Bahamas for the win.
Belgium have the Borlee brothers to run sub 44 second laps,
but they were fifth at the 2011 World Championships and the last Olympics, so don’t
make a huge amount of appeal despite being as big as 4/1 for a medal, and the
rest look to be a step or two behind on all known form.
Advice
2 pts Bahamas (5/2 general)
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