¶2012 OG: m4x400–Bahamas 2:56.73 WL

[dj]

T&FN formchart advancers to final

1. United States
2. Belgium
3. Bahamas
4. Great Britain
5. Jamaica
5. South Africa
6. Russia
8. Cuba
9. Trinidad
10. Kenya

[EPelle]

Olympic Record: 2.55,39 United States, Beijing 2008 (LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner)

2008 Results: G-United States 2:55.39OR (LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner); S-Bahamas 2.58,03 (Andretti Bain, Michael Matthieu, Andrae Williams, Chris Brown); B-Russia 2.58,06 (Maksim Dyldin, Vladislav Frlov, Anton Kokorin, Denis Alekseyev)
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[ATK]

Curious what people think the order should be for the us team.
Looking back at Beijing, I think a team of Merrit-Taylor-Nellums-McQuay would be pretty solid.
I know Merrit saved the day in Daegu, but I dont think anyone can run a lead off close to sub 44 right now besides him. And McQuay can definitely give a 43 mid anchor.

[j-a-m]

Curious what people think the order should be for the us team.
Looking back at Beijing, I think a team of Merrit-Taylor-Nellums-McQuay would be pretty solid.
I know Merrit saved the day in Daegu, but I dont think anyone can run a lead off close to sub 44 right now besides him. And McQuay can definitely give a 43 mid anchor.

I generally agree with the idea to start with a fast runner; get a lead early, and avoid potential trouble in the exchange zone. I believe, though, that can be achieved with the second fastest runner, presumably McQuay, saving the more experienced Merritt for anchor.

[gh]

forget the order; the whole part about "who" remains on the table until we see what Merritt does in the heats tomorrow morning.

[Weights&Shoes]

forget the order; the whole part about "who" remains on the table until we see what Merritt does in the heats tomorrow morning.

Ding, ding, ding.

[ATK]

forget the order; the whole part about "who" remains on the table until we see what Merritt does in the heats tomorrow morning.

Good call.
I guess Wariner just booked his spot on that team.

[j-a-m]

forget the order; the whole part about "who" remains on the table until we see what Merritt does in the heats tomorrow morning.

Yes, time to reconsider all this now, unfortunately...

[usafa]

forget the order; the whole part about "who" remains on the table until we see what Merritt does in the heats tomorrow morning.

Yes, time to reconsider all this now, unfortunately...

I agree, our Boyz did not perform

[pakillo]

It is now or never for the Bahamas!

[ATK]

It is now or never for the Bahamas!

I still think Bahamas will really have to push themselves slightly above and beyond, but the gap obviously closed. I still would be surprised to see the US lose.

[zidan]

I know its early days yet, but do ya'll think that with Merritt now out a certain Usain Bolt might just log on to the Jamaican team, now that their chance of a medal, possible Gold, has now gone up by a good 40%.

[ATK]

I know its early days yet, but do ya'll think that with Merritt now out a certain Usain Bolt might just log on to the Jamaican team, now that their chance of a medal, possible Gold, has now gone up by a good 40%.

You must have missed their open 400m performances.

[zidan]

Yap. My bad, i did. doesn't look good at all. what this now means is that Bolt must retain his titles here, then make that long awaited move back to the 400s in order to restore Jamaica's now damaged reputation in the quartermile.

[iain]

What is funny here is that the organisers may have shot themselves in the foot. Their stupid attempt to get Bolt in the last event means there us almost no chance of Bolt in the 4x400m, and with the 4x100m possible mishaps he may not be there.

[j-a-m]

What is funny here is that the organisers may have shot themselves in the foot. Their stupid attempt to get Bolt in the last event means there us almost no chance of Bolt in the 4x400m, and with the 4x100m possible mishaps he may not be there.

Exactly.

[Weights&Shoes]

What is funny here is that the organisers may have shot themselves in the foot. Their stupid attempt to get Bolt in the last event means there us almost no chance of Bolt in the 4x400m, and with the 4x100m possible mishaps he may not be there.

Exactly.

Which is why I never liked that change. It worked last year, the first time it got changed, but with all the mishaps that event brings I'd rather the 4x400 close out major championships.

[Randy Treadway]

I know its early days yet, but do ya'll think that with Merritt now out a certain Usain Bolt might just log on to the Jamaican team, now that their chance of a medal, possible Gold, has now gone up by a good 40%.

Don't forget that Rudisha wants a crack at Bolt over 400 too, although I don't know whether his country can put together a good enough 4x4 to make the final.

[trackdug]

Depending what McQuay does in the finals (if he makes it) and what Wariner does on his leg in the premin 4x4, I think Wariner should be given a shot as the anchor in the final. He's got the big championship experience and always does a terrific job on the relays. If he splits sub-44 in the prelims I think he should bring home the stick in the finals.

[ATK]

He's got the big championship experience and always does a terrific job on the relays.

As stated many times in the past, experience means close to nothing when it comes to the 4x4, if your not fast enough, your simply going to get run down.
This is not a 4x1.

I like a team of McQuay, A. Taylor, Nellums and Mance for the final.
Mitchell and Wariner can be used in the prelim.

[Grasshopper]

Let's not forget the USA 400h'ers. With Clement and Taylor showing great form in the hurdles it's presumable that they could have some fast relay legs in them. This isn't the Taylor of Daegu's relay, and Clement hasn't run this fast since '09.

[ATK]

Let's not forget the USA 400h'ers. With Clement and Taylor showing great form in the hurdles it's presumable that they could have some fast relay legs in them. This isn't the Taylor of Daegu's relay, and Clement hasn't run this fast since '09.

Taylor not Clement. I don't think Clement is in better flat 400 shape than others. I would actually rather have Wariner run the prelim.

[Grasshopper]

I have a hard time believing that a prelim team of Mance, Clement, Taylor, and Wariner couldn't qualify easily, allowing McQuay and Nelloms extra rest for the final. Shoot, you could potentially put Tinsley in Taylor's spot for the prelims and still qualify, giving him an extra days rest, as well.

[ATK]

I have a hard time believing that a prelim team of Mance, Clement, Taylor, and Wariner couldn't qualify easily, allowing McQuay and Nelloms extra rest for the final. Shoot, you could potentially put Tinsley in Taylor's spot for the prelims and still qualify, giving him an extra days rest, as well.

Well you can only have 2 alternates.
Mance Mitchell and Wariner are in the relay pool.
Taylor, McQuay and Nellums are probably locked for the final, 1 of them will have to run the semi.
I think probably Nellums Mance, Wariner, and Mitchell should run, because, as with your team, they should have no problem qualifying.

Mitchell proved himself his year leading up to trials and at trials. With Merrit out, Wariner should get his chance to prove him self here.

There is no point of using Clement, just because. If any team can qualify, go for the 3 relay pool athletes.

[Grasshopper]

I have a hard time believing that a prelim team of Mance, Clement, Taylor, and Wariner couldn't qualify easily, allowing McQuay and Nelloms extra rest for the final. Shoot, you could potentially put Tinsley in Taylor's spot for the prelims and still qualify, giving him an extra days rest, as well.

Well you can only have 2 alternates.
Mance Mitchell and Wariner are in the relay pool.
Taylor, McQuay and Nellums are probably locked for the final, 1 of them will have to run the semi.
I think probably Nellums Mance, Wariner, and Mitchell should run, because, as with your team, they should have no problem qualifying.

Mitchell proved himself his year leading up to trials and at trials. With Merrit out, Wariner should get his chance to prove him self here.

There is no point of using Clement, just because. If any team can qualify, go for the 3 relay pool athletes.

Oops. I didn't know about Mitchell as an option. I thought it was just Mance and Wariner in addition to the open 400 team.

[Randy Treadway]

Best to wait and let the results of both the 400 and 400IH play out to get the latest look at everybody's form, before making a call.

For that matter the form shown in the 4x4 semi's should enter into it as well.

We don't need to be in any rush to decide at this point.

[bman]

Anyone know the status of Michael Mathieu? It is absolutely crucial that he is ready for the final. Is he entered in the 200? Has Bahamas listed a 4x4 pool?

Assuming everyone is healthy, the US has to run Taylor McQuay and Nellum in the final, and most likely Josh Mance as the 4th. Rest Taylor and McQuay in the heats. That is a talented but shaky team. When you start to add up numbers, it is not hard at all to come up with a USA loss. Lets see how the open 4 plays out.

Also keep in mind, a wild card is John Drummond messing things up. He could loose it for us, there just isn't the room for error in team selection that there usually is.

[Grasshopper]

Well, I suppose the silver lining of these 400m semis is that McQuay and Nellum will both be well rested for the relay.

[doug5321]

USA is still a lock for gold, belgium is picked second on the formchart and their 3rd fastest 400 runner has not even broke 46 seconds this year.

[doug5321]

bahamas should get 2nd, unless jamaica runs bolt.

[Dutra5]

bahamas should get 2nd, unless jamaica runs bolt.

Bahamas could win. Who does Jamaica have to run the 3 legs which would make sense to even consider having Bolt run?

[j-a-m]

USA is still a lock for gold, belgium is picked second on the formchart and their 3rd fastest 400 runner has not even broke 46 seconds this year.

Nellum barely missed the final, Mance was about on the same level as Nellum back at NCAAs and OT, Taylor seems in great shape, Wariner still in the mix; so yeah, plenty of alternatives, and no other country has the same depth. Wouldn't call it a lock, though.

[jjimbojames]

US will always be favourites in a 4x400m, but Bahamas, Belgium and GBR should be duking it out with them come the final

[MightyBurner]

Angelo Taylor-Wariner-Mance-McQuay

[j-a-m]

Angelo Taylor-Wariner-Mance-McQuay

Nellum missed the final by just 3/100