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SPORTS Monday 5 March 2018

Poland sets world indoor record in 4x400-meter relay, US 2nd

By DANIELLA MATAR 3:02.51.
Associated Press The American women
BIRMINGHAM, England fared better, winning their
(AP) — Poland set a world 4x400 relay in a champion-
indoor record in the 4x400- ship record of 3:23.85, but
meter relay on Sunday at faced an anxious wait as
the world indoor athletics the jury reviewed a series of
championships, with the appeals.
United States also inside the The team of Quanera
old mark. Hayes, Georganne Moline
The Polish team of Karol and individual 400 gold
Zalewski, Rafal Omelko, Lu- and silver medalists, Court-
kasz Krawczuk and Jakub ney Okolo and Shakima
Krzewina won in 3:01.77. Wimbley, dominated with
That shaved 0.36 seconds the second-fastest indoor
off the previous record of time ever — less than half a
3:02.13, which was set by second off the world indoor
the U.S. in 2014. record of 3:23.37.
"It is a big shock and sur- "We came together as a
prise for us," Omelko said. team as we always do,"
"We were targeting the Eu- Hayes said. "We don't train
ropean record but really together during the normal
did not expect a result like season. But as soon as we
this and never dreamed put USA across our chest, Poland's Jakub Krzewina celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's 4x400-meter relay
about the world record." everything else goes out of final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Britain, Sunday, March 4, 2018.
The U.S. team of Fred Ker- the window." Associated Press
ley, Michael Cherry, Aldrich Jamaica crossed the line in
Bailey Jr. and Vernon Nor- second place but was soon holder Renaud Lavillenie ized first, when the photo of land's Marcin Lewandowski
wood finished 0.2 seconds disqualified with an athlete won the world indoors pole Pozzi's dive for the line ap- and Abdelaati Iguider of
behind Poland in 3:01.97, in the incorrect order when vault for a third time, but it peared on the big screen, Morocco.
also beating the previous waiting to receive the ba- was his first significant title in and tapped his rival on the Teammate Yomif Kejelcha
record by a different U.S. ton. two years after an injury-hit arm in congratulations. successfully defended his
team. That saw Poland claim the season last year. "I knew at the fourth hurdle 3,000 title ahead of anoth-
"I think the last lap with silver with a national indoor Lavillenie was clearly emo- I was behind," Pozzi said. "I er Ethiopian, Selemon Bare-
Jakub Krzewina was the record of 3:26.09 with Brit- tional on the podium after can't describe how much ga, and Bethwell Birgen of
crucial one," Omelko said. ain third in 3:29.38. being the only competi- I wanted it. I threw every- Kenya. Kejelcha's winning
"He pushed it so hard and The race triggered a bliz- tor to clear 5.90 meters. thing at the line hoping to time of 8:14.41 was the
he is very, very strong this zard of appeals. American Sam Kendricks get there and I just about slowest in the 32-year his-
year. He helped us to win Jamaica appealed against was second, ahead of Po- got there." tory of the championships
the most." its disqualification, while land's Piotr Lisek after both Earlier, there was a trib- by more than 10 seconds.
It appeared as if the Ameri- Ukraine asked for Poland to cleared 5.85 in a compe- ute to Roger Bannister on Francine Niyonsaba of Bu-
cans would take victory be disqualified and Poland tition which lasted more the big screen at Arena rundi also successfully de-
— and the record — but claimed the U.S. should be than three hours. Birmingham to remember fended her title, in the 800,
Krzewina surged past Nor- as well — both for stepping The U.S. was also narrowly the first runner to break the beating American Ajee Wil-
wood in the final straight in on the kerb. beaten to the title in the 4-minute barrier in the mile. son — just as she had done
Birmingham. All three appeals were 60-meter hurdles, with Brit- Bannister died Saturday at in Portland two years ago.
"The team did a great job, rejected with the final or- ain's Andrew Pozzi edging age 88 in Oxford. Shelayna Oskan-Clarke
but no comment on my last der of U.S., Poland, Britain, out Jarret Eaton by 0.01 to Also, Samuel Terefa be- took bronze.
leg," Norwood said. Ukraine and Italy. win his first global title. came the youngest ever In a reversal of the top two
Belgium was third, with Britain was initially disquali- Pozzi and Eaton waited winner of the world indoor long jump places in Port-
the three Borlee brothers fied for obstruction but suc- side-by-side after crossing 1500 title. land, Serbia's Ivana Spa-
and Jonathan Sacoor, set- cessfully appealed. the line to see which one of The 18-year-old Ethiopian novic beat Brittney Reese.
ting a national record with Elsewhere, world record them had won. Eaton real- won in 3:58.19, beating Po- q