2015 IAAF World Relays – Men's 4 × 800 metres relay explained

Event:Men's 4 x 800 metres relay
Competition:2014 IAAF World Relays
Venue:Thomas Robinson Stadium
Dates:2 May (final)
Competitors:20
Nations:5
Win Value:7:04.84
Gold:Duane Solomon
Erik Sowinski
Casimir Loxsom
Robby Andrews
Silver:Karol Konieczny
Kamil Gurdak
Marcin Lewandowski
Adam Kszczot
Bronze:Jared West
Josh Ralph
Ryan Gregson
Jordan Williamsz
Prev:2014
Next:2017

The men's 4 x 800 metres relay at the 2015 IAAF World Relays was held at the Thomas Robinson Stadium on 2 May.

Records

Prior to the competition, the records were as follows:

World record Kenya
(Joseph Mutua, William Yiampoy, Ismael Kombich, Wilfred Bungei)
7:02.43 Brussels, Belgium25 August 2006
Championship record Kenya
(Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, Sammy Kibet Kirongo, Job Koech Kinyor, Alfred Kipketer)
7:08.40 Nassau, Bahamas24 May 2014
World Leading7:09.1 Nairobi, Kenya10 April 2015
African Record Kenya
(Joseph Mutua, William Yiampoy, Ismael Kombich, Wilfred Bungei)
7:02.43 Brussels, Belgium25 August 2006
Asian Record Qatar
(Majed Saeed Sultan, Salem Amer Al-Badri, Abdulrahman Suleiman, Abubaker Ali Kamal)
7:06.66 Brussels, Belgium25 August 2006
North, Central American and Caribbean record United States
(Jebreh Harris, Khadevis Robinson, Samuel Burley, David Krummenacker)
7:02.82 Brussels, Belgium25 August 2006
South American RecordNo official record
European Record
(Peter Elliott, Garry Cook, Steve Cram, Sebastian Coe)
7:03.89 London, Great Britain30 August 1982
Oceanian record Australia
(Josh Ralph, Ryan Gregson, Jordan Williamsz, Jared West)
7:11.48 Nassau, Bahamas24 May 2014

Summary

Kenya's Alfred Kipketer started off fast, chased by USA's Duane Solomon, with Kipketer holding the advantage at the handoff, the 1:47 pace three seconds slower than Kipketer's PR at the time and five seconds slower than Solomon's. Kenya's second runner Nicholas Kipkoech pushed the pace followed by American Erik Sowinski as the two teams separated from the field. With 200 metres to go, Sowinski passed Kipkoech who ran out of gas, Sowinski sprinting the final straightaway to put a 20 metre gap on Kipkoech pulling away. Poland's Kamil Gurdak was also gaining rapidly on Kipkoech. Sowinski's split was a more competitive 1:44.7. Lined up for the handoff, Timothy Kitum became alarmed at his teammate losing ground and bounced backward down the straightaway to grab the baton as Casimir Loxsom sprinted away. Loxsom ran another high 1:44 split to hand off to Robby Andrews with a 35 metre lead, while Poland put their best two runners last, Marcin Lewandowski closing down on Kitum to within 3 metres. Kenya's Jeremiah Mutai took off in chase of Andrews, ignoring Poland's European Champion Adam Kszczot. Over the next 650 metres, Mutai closed down the lead to a manageable 10 metres, but Andrews is a kicker, almost serving as a cruel decoy, Andrews sprinted away from a dejected Mutai to retain the huge lead he had started with. With Kszczot sprinting from behind, Mutai barely crossed the line in second place with Australia a distant fourth.

After the race, Kenya was disqualified for Kitum wandering out of the passing zone. USA's time of 7:04.84 was also the Championship record.

Results

KEY:CRChampionship recordSBSeasonal best

Final

The final was started at 20:13.[1]

Rank Lane Nation Athletes Time Notes
4 7:04.84 CR, WL
5 7:09.98 SB
7 7:16.30 SB
4 3 7:22.61 SB
6

Notes and References

  1. http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-4X8-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=1217389009 Final Results