Trinidad and Tobago capped off a six-medal haul at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a historic men’s 4x400 metres relay gold at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England on Sunday.
The TT quartet of Dwight St Hillaire, Asa Guevara, Machel Cedenio and Jereem “The Dream” Richards, running in that order, powered to victory in three minutes, 01.29 seconds.
In the process, they ended TT’s 56-year gold medal drought in this event at the Games. The last time TT won the Commonwealth men’s 4x400m was in 1966, when Lennox Yearwood, Kent Bernard, Edwin Robert and Wendell Mottley topped the field in Jamaica.
Running out of lane eight, St Hillaire had a strong start on the opening leg and was first to smoothly hand-off his baton to Guevara. Guevara extended the lead on the second lap but Jamaica’s Nathon kept in the hunt.
Another successful hand-off to Cedenio saw TT maintain their advantage with Jamaican Jevaughn Powell closing in. Powell caught Cedenio with just over half-lap to go but the TT quarter-miler shifted gears to regain control.
With about 50m to go on the third lap, Botswana’s Anthony Pesela surged past Powell and levelled Cedenio at the hand-off.
However, the in-form recently crowned men’s 200m Commonwealth champion Richards meant business. Richards blasted off on the final leg to go ahead of the Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori.
Ndori kept on his heels but with the last 100m to go, and scenting victory, Richards increased his speed to open up an unassailable lead; one comfortable enough for him to spread his hands in glory while crossing the finish line.
Botswana earned silver in 3:01.85 whhile Kenya snagged bronze in 3:02.41.
This was Richards’ second gold medal of the meet having successfully defended his 200m crown on Saturday.
Additionally, this was the first time the team ran in this order, since Richards usually contests the second leg. As is customary, “The Dream” paid tribute to his former 400m teammate Deon Lendore, who passed away in an accident in Texas in January.
“First of all I want to say give praise to God. I know Deon would be looking down at us and be very proud of this 4x400m team to see where we’ve come from, to where we are now, Commonwealth Games champions,” he said.
Richards credited a full team effort for the victory and highlighted the efforts of teammates Kashief King and Che Lara, who competed in the semi-finals on Saturday and helped qualify TT to the medal race.
“Today, the plan definitely was to put me on the last leg and see how well I could finish. And everyone did their job exceptionally. Asa might as well have taken me off of the second leg with that leg that he put down there today.
“Dwight gave us a lead from the start. Asa extended that lead, Machel held that lead and did well and opened up for me.
“The team, when I got the baton, it had no wrong for me to do; just finish strong. Running 400m hurts but I will sacrifice myself any day for this 4x400m team,” he added.
