UK Relays - State of Play

[treadwater1]

True, I can’t see the top American 400/400h runners competing in the mixed relay 48 hours or less before their individual starts if they’ve got a chance of another gold in the single sex relays at the end of the week, but strangely the chances of Mu (and Hodgkinson) taking part increase as their individual event doesn’t start until the Thursday and likelihood of them competing in the relay final an hour after the 800 final are slim

[jjimbojames]

I think if Felix is not in the individual but in the relay squad, she’ll do both 4x400s - run the heats, get a medal, repeat a week later. What’s not to love?

[Occasional Hope]

Felix is very medal focussed, I think she'll run in any relay team they let her.

[jjimbojames]

Yep! She wants to keep adding to the silverware and allowing her to run the heats at least of relays helps both her and the marketing machines…

[Ladyloz]

I am expecting Felix to make the individual 400 team. She seems to be in good enough shape to do that.

[Stew-Coach]

we have a women's 4x4 team in this evenings Oslo event, not necessarily a full A team but good exposure and practice

[MysteryBrick]

Noticed that Alex Haydock-Wilson again split sub-45 on anchor in Greece a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if he will back up this and also his fairly fast 300m time (32.65) with a 45-low.

[Stew-Coach]

yeah very solid, he is down for Copenhagen this evening, 400 and then 200m

[MysteryBrick]

45.69 SB, not bad but not world-beating yet.

[treadwater1]

Kilty out for the season after surgery. It would most likely be between Edoburun, Azu and Prescod for his place in the team, only Prescod has trained with the team but that ended in acrimony a few months ago

[Ladyloz]

Kilty out for the season after surgery. It would most likely be between Edoburun, Azu and Prescod for his place in the team, only Prescod has trained with the team but that ended in acrimony a few months ago

I think a team of Azu; Hughes; Gemili & NMB now feels most likely "strike four" team for the champs this year.

[marilyn1]

I think a team of Azu; Hughes; Gemili & NMB now feels most likely "strike four" team for the champs this year.

Not our greatest team, eh, there are several teams better , imo; let us not forget Japan or China with Jamaica or even USA if they can get it round. No medal this year.If Azu and Hughes and the mystery 20.15 man get the baton round that will be a relief.

[Sprintfan]

Get a life Marilyn. Mystery 20.25 man indeed. Your nasty petty sniping is unecessary. Do something about that chip on your shoulder. .

[Ladyloz]

I don't think there are several teams better at all. And individually the GB men are in better form across the board compared to this time last year (even excluding Prescod) - more foot speed always helps. I see no reason why GB shouldn't be considered strong medal contenders.

I'd rate South Africa more than either Japan or China. Japan don't seem to be the force they were a few years back, they made no impact in their home games. And not seen anything of Su this summer.
If Jacobs isn't fit that will weaken the Italians of course; there are signs of better form from the Jamaican men though and I will watch the sprints from their trials with interest. Canada are usually strong, although the form of their talisman De Grasse is a bit of a puzzle so far. I thought he was coming to the boil nicely with his 10.05 in Oslo but then he could barely run under 20.40 on an evening that was seemingly perfect conditions for sprinting. He is a master at peaking for majors so not writing him off but I don't feel as confident as I usually do about his championship chances.

Of course the USA are easily the strongest on paper - but their record is poor. I am not sure if being at home will help or hinder them.

[Occasional Hope]

De Grasse currently has Covid which isn't an ideal lead up to Eugene even if he's one of the lucky ones who doesn't get it badly and makes a quick recovery: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...with-covid-19/

[Ladyloz]

Hopefully De Grasse recovery will be swift as per Athing Mu.

[marilyn1]

I don't think there are several teams better at all. And individually the GB men are in better form across the board compared to this time last year (even excluding Prescod) - more foot speed always helps. I see no reason why GB shouldn't be considered strong medal contenders.

I'd rate South Africa more than either Japan or China. Japan don't seem to be the force they were a few years back, they made no impact in their home games. And not seen anything of Su this summer.
If Jacobs isn't fit that will weaken the Italians of course; there are signs of better form from the Jamaican men though and I will watch the sprints from their trials with interest. Canada are usually strong, although the form of their talisman De Grasse is a bit of a puzzle so far. I thought he was coming to the boil nicely with his 10.05 in Oslo but then he could barely run under 20.40 on an evening that was seemingly perfect conditions for sprinting. He is a master at peaking for majors so not writing him off but I don't feel as confident as I usually do about his championship chances.

Of course the USA are easily the strongest on paper - but their record is poor. I am not sure if being at home will help or hinder them.

you are perfectly free to convince yourself of anything. In world class races where mistakes are made by inexperienced guys GB have a history of screwing up just as other countries. Azu is inexperienced in the pressure cooker of relays,NMB is not doing anything especially fast in the 100m .We will see what transpires.

[MysteryBrick]

Definitely not super hot on the men's 4x100 this year, but it is also true that GB are the only men's team to finish in the top 3 on the track on the last 3 majors. Suggests that, even in a small sample size, they've got consistency.

[Walsh7]

A GB men's 4x100 team of Azu, Hughes, Prescod, and Mitchell-Blake would win a medal at the WC if they got the baton around the track. They could even challenge for the Gold if the Americans, Japan, or Jamaica, had problems with their exchanges. I don't know why so many Brits are down on the men's sprint relay.

[treadwater1]

Lyles and Coleman were the glue that held the 2019 team together and their time showed it. There’s always a chance of a blunder if one of the less experienced guys (possibly Kerley) aren’t well practiced, I think are just about favourites at this point. We’re looking very good for a medal, Azu will surely come in, NMB in better shape than last year and 2019

[MysteryBrick]

The team named, with Prescod on anchor, is very very good. Getting it round is always a challenge but as mentioned above, GB have been doing that well recently, drug bans excepted

[trickstat]

I've long thought that perhaps the greatest asset for consistently good sprint relay results is if you are able to have the same pairing running 2nd and 3rd legs for a number of years. A great example was the British women's team from 1978-1984 with Kathy Smallwood/Cook and Bev Goddard/Callender. An added bonus was that they were originally members of the same squad and club at Reading. A less exalted example was the women's team at my local club for most of the '80, where the 2nd leg runner was the person who still holds the club 200 and 400 records and the 3rd leg runner was my sister (the club LJ record holder). The great thing about this is that you tend to have a rock-solid 2nd takeover while any new person on 1st or 4th legs has just 1 takeover to do together with an experienced team member.

[RunUnlimited]

A more recent (and elite) example would be the current women's 4x100m squad. Ever since DAS, Neita and Lansiquot came on the scene at roughly the same time, they have been a consistently fast, well drilled and medal winning combination. Also with veterans like Asha Philip and Nelson who were there longer, has helped keep the team cohesive too.

[MysteryBrick]

Completely the case - the 2016 and 2021 teams had 3 of the same team members (Henry out for Lansiquot was the only change) and ran 41.77 (NR) and 41.88 respectively.

The other advantage GB now has is that 2 of their legs are absolutely world-class in terms of footspeed. Remember, GB won WC bronze in 2013 with Hayley Jones on anchor, with SBs of 11.31 and 23.29. Neita has run 10.80w and 22.34w this year. Absolute chalk and cheese.

[carterhatch]

An article worth reading about the men's relay squad - it also notes that Azu is injured and will not be involved in the WCs.

Life after doping: Inside British relay's year from hell

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/life-dopin...060619242.html

It does rather suggest a line up of Gemili- Hughes- NMB- Prescod [I am not sure my nerves could cope...]

As an aside, one can only hope that Prescod might take inspiration from MHS ...

[Ladyloz]

Thanks for posting the article.

Really unfortunate that the communication regarding the failed test was poor. They really should have been notified officially not find out along with the rest of us.

And also surprised that the whole issue wasn't discussed earlier at relay camps. Especially with Darren Campbell involved, having lost medals himself due to someone else's doping you would have thought he would be the perfect person to have on hand.

[jjimbojames]

So with Prescod anchoring, do they keep one handover the same (Hughes-Gemili) and have NMB start, or change all of them and have Gemili-Hughes-NMB-Prescod?

[carterhatch]

you know, JJImboJames, any permutation is going to be fraught for the onlooker. .. I have NMB on a bend, as he has demonstrated a return to form on this element of his running... Hughes makes sense on the 'long' back straight [plus no where near a start hahaha] ... if Gemili can just find one strong race, and I am a big fan of his as a person despite the recent post-race 'outburst', and changeovers work, there is a British Record ... however, we all know how it can go very wrong...

[jjimbojames]

His start/bend the other day was great, so I assume Gemili will lead off…at least he has run that leg before (and maybe passed to Hughes on second) before Ujah became the lead off

[Ladyloz]

Such a shame about Azu. Hope his injury isn't too serious and he can run at the Commonwealths.

Gemili has run every single leg at some point so I would be OK whether he goes leg 1 or 3. And as jjimbojames says he ran pretty well on the bend the other day so no worries in that regard. It's more where the team want to slot NMB.

Despite all the drama, I wish Reece well on his relay debut. I will require a bigger cushion to watch from behind though.

[trickstat]

So with Prescod anchoring, do they keep one handover the same (Hughes-Gemili) and have NMB start, or change all of them and have Gemili-Hughes-NMB-Prescod?

What about Azu? Seems a natural fit for first leg presuming he has some idea of how to run a bend. I would not risk Prescod and go for Azu-Hughes-Gemili-NMB.

[MysteryBrick]

As pointed out above, Azu is injured.

[Ladyloz]

The article carterhatch posted said Azu is injured and has flown home.

[trickstat]

Oops - bit sleepy after watching some athletics last night!

I do think the best place to slot in Prescod - better to have him receiving a baton once rather than giving one or doing both. I think Gemili-Hughes-NMB-Prescod seems the most sensible choice.