Allen upbeat about 4x400m

DOHA, Qatar:

Jamaica’s wait to win a global title in the men’s 4x400 metres dates back to the 1952 Olympic Games where legends Arthur Wint, Les Laing, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden stunned the world to win the gold.

Nathon Allen, one of the leading 400m runners of this generation and the third fastest Jamaican of all time over the distance, admits that it would be difficult to end the wait at these championships, but said he is not putting anything past this crop of one-lap runners.

Allen, Akeem Bloomfield and national record holder Rasheen McDonald, who are all here, are the three fastest Jamaicans ever over the distance.

“It is pretty difficult if you look at the USA team, but I think once those guys go out there and run well in their individual races, I think anything can happen,” he said.

Lead leg

Allen added another World Championships 4x400m medal to his collection last Sunday when he ran the lead leg on Jamaica’s mixed relay team which captured the silver medal.

The team which also included Roniesha McGregor, Tiffany James, and Javon Francis, who is also part of the men’s mile relay pool, ran a national record 3:11.78 to finish behind the USA who clocked a world record 3:09.34 for gold.

“I don’t think running two rounds in each of the relays will affect me because it’s a championships and you can’t expect anything else,” he said.

The former St Jago High athlete is hoping to use his recent achievement as a source of motivation for the men’s mile relay race, which is scheduled for on Saturday, October 5.

“This (winning the silver medal) will push me to go on and do well in the men’s 4x400m,” Allen said. “All season I haven’t been running well and to come out here and run like this to help my teammates is really rewarding.”

Jamaica failed to reach the final in the event in 2017 as they finished a disappointing fourth in the preliminary round.