IT WASN’T QUITE the bang they were hoping for.
Barbados’ historic Pan Am Games performance didn’t get a fitting cap after the country’s 4×400 women’s relay team was disqualified in Saturday night’s final at the York University track in Toronto.
Running in lane seven, the Bajan girls appeared to have stepped out of their lane in one of the first two legs of the highly competitive final.
The disqualification wasn’t exactly major though, considering Barbados placed eighth anyhow, with the team of Nadia Cummins, Sada Williams, Sade Sealy and Tia-Adana Belle clocking three minutes, 34.06 seconds.
The United States squad, comprising Shamier Little, Kyra Jefferson, Shakima Wimbley and Kendall Baisden, won the event in 3:25.68, while Jamaica (3:27.27) and Canada (3:27.74) finished second and third, respectively.
Barbados’ men’s 4×100 relay team was bumped up a spot to fourth yesterday after initial gold medal winners Canada were disqualified for also stepping out of their lane.
That ruling resulted in the US taking the gold after the Americans clocked 38.27 seconds. Brazil were second with 38.68 while Trinidad (38.69) were eventually awarded the bronze medal.
Barbados ended the games with three medals – one silver and two bronze – while the United States comfortably topped the medal standings once again with 265 medals: 103 gold, 81 silver and 81 bronze.
Canada copped 217 medals (78 gold, 69 silver, 70 bronze) for second place overall. (JM)
