Schoolboy Takes Jamaica to World 4×4 Silver

Calabar High School student Javon Francis ran a stunning anchor leg today to take the Jamaican mile relay team to a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m final of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow. The fearless 18-yr-old took the baton in fifth position and immediately stepped on the gas to quickly overhaul three runners in front of him and find himself in second place, with World champion Lashawn Merrit of the USA as his target down the homestretch.

However, he was unable to close the wide gap and Merritt raced to the line in a world leading 2 mins, 58.71secs. Francis crossed the line in 2:59.90, a season best (SB) for Jamaica, just holding off Russia in their SB 2:59.90.

In getting to the final, Francis also anchored Jamaica in the preliminary round, holding his own against world-class athletes. He ran past Martyn Rooney of Great Britain (who stepped around and away from him at the changeover) at the top of the homestraight and held on for the win in a world leading 3:00.41. Great Britain registered a SB 3:00.50.

Until Thursday, a medal for the young Jamaican team looked out of reach with just a place in the final looking more reasonable. But the heart and determination of the Jamaicans were evident when Francis took on Rooney and raced ahead of him to the line. However, problems soon set in when national champion Javere Bell fell victim to a hip injury and was deemed unfit to run. The 400m semi-finalist Omar Johnson was, therefore, brought in to replace him.

Jamaica’s team in the final was comprised of lead-off Rusheen McDonald, Edino Steele, Johnson and Francis, in that order.

Completing the field were Great Britain and Northern Ireland, fourth  in 3:00.88; Belgium, fifth in 3:01.02; Trinidad and Tobago, sixth in 3:01.74; Brazil, seventh in 3:02.19; and Australia, eighth in 3:02.26.

In the morning, the women’s mile relay team of Rosemarie Whyte, Kaliese Spencer, Anastasia LeRoy and Christine Day clocked 3:25.25 for second behind Russia (3:23.51) and an automatic spot in the final. However, the team was later disqualified for a lane violation committed by Whyte on lead-off. Jamaica appealed the ruling, but the Juror of Appeals upheld the disqualification.