Sanya Richards anchors 3:23.75 women's 4x400m relay at Texas Relays - final day

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Sanya Richards anchors 3:23.75 women’s 4x400m relay at Texas Relays - final day

Sunday 4 April 2004

Austin, Texas, USA - The weather turned warm and sunny (27-28C), and university and professional athletes responded with excellent performances, especially on the track, at the last day of the Texas Relays (3 April).

Fast long relays

Four young women from the host University of Texas turned in a collegiate record 3:23.75 for the 4x400 Relay, a time bettered last year only by the three medal-winning national teams in the World Championships. The team of Sheretta Jones, 20 (53.0), Raasin McIntosh, 21 (50.4), Jerrika Chapple, 19 (50.1) and Sanya Richards, 19 (50.3), averages a mere 20 years old.

The men’s fastest 4x400 was statistically a bit less impressive, but much more competitive - and the depth was phenomenal. The “A” race was won by Baylor University in 3:01.06, with sub-45 splits from Jeremy Warriner (44.3) and Darold Williamson (44.5). Close behind them were Florida, with 3:01.49, (including a 44.6 anchor by Kerron Clement (44.6), and Arizona State with 3:01.51, capped by a 44.2 anchor by Louis Banda (ZIM).

A second 4x400 was won by a pick-up “USA Red” team of American professionals, one of several sponsored by USATF - James Carter, Leonard Byrd, Corey Nelson and Derrick Brew - in 3:01.58. In four men’s 4x400 races, a total of 13 teams ran faster than 3:06 - rather amazing for so early in the outdoor season.

Sprint relays were also world class

The 4x100 races were also world class. The men’s US Red foursome of Jon Drummond, Bernard Williams, Darvis Patton, and J.J. Johnson won their race in 38.14, beating an HIS team anchored by Maurice Greene, which ran 38.30. Greene ran his anchor leg hard, and gained a foot or two on Johnson. so he seems to be totally fit for the first time since Edmonton.

The top women’s 4x100 was also a USA Red team of Angela Daigle, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller, and Torri Edwards, which ran 42.70. The university 4x100s were both won by Lousiana State, the men in 38.93 and the women in 43.34.

Larry Wade - 13.13 opener in the Sprint Hurdles

Among individuals, Larry Wade opened his outdoor season impressively, winning the 110 Hurdles in 13.13 (+1.8), with Chris Pinnock (JAM) second in 13.47.

Angela Whyte (CAN) won the top women’s 100 Hurdles in 12.79 (+1.3).

Bershawn Jackson won the 400 Hurdles in 48.74, while Raasin McIntosh won the women’s version in 55.29.

DaBryan Blanton won the fastest non-windy 100 metres in 10.22 (+1.4), but there were several faster wind-aided times, notably a 10.05 (+2.9) by Steven Mullings (JAM), and hometown ace Brendan Christian, who is currently believed to have dual citizenship with the United States and his native Antigua, who clocked 10.13 (+2.2).

Jim Dunaway for the IAAF