By Joel Bailey Saturday, August 11 2012

A FAILED baton exchange between Michelle-Lee Ahye and Kelly-Ann Baptiste cost Trinidad and Tobago a chance of a medal in the women’s 4x100-metre relay final at the 30th Olympiad in London, England.

At the Olympic Stadium, Baptiste took off too early in the second leg, and she was out of her designated area when she was handed the baton by Ahye.

As a result, Kai Selvon, the assigned third leg runner, and Semoy Hackett were left as mere spectators as the United States won the race in a world-record time of 40.82 seconds, lowering the previous mark of 41.37 seconds set by East Germany in 1985.

The quartet of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter were followed across the finish line by Jamaica in 41.41 seconds, with Ukraine third in 42.04.

The US team had failed to reach the final at the Beijing Olympics but after qualifying fastest for the 2012 final, Madison gave the US an electric start, with Felix and Knight maintaining the lead before 100 metres silver medallist Jeter stormed down the straight to capture the gold.

The Jamaican quartet featured 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and bronze medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown, but they could not match the fierce pace of the world champions.

Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team, Dexter Voisin, commented yesterday, “it was a bitter-sweet day for us, with the unfortunate situation with the women (who) did not get the baton around. We felt they could have medalled.”

He continued, “They have worked hard. As a matter of fact, in practice, all their passes were on top. It’s unfortunate, this is athletics, these things could happen and we can’t dwell on this.”

Former national sprinter Ayanna Hutchinson tweeted, “my Trinbago ladies. I still love you guys. Never doubt I support you wholeheartedly, win, lose or draw.”

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee added, “we are still extremely proud of our 4x100-metre girls for making it into the finals.”

And cyclist Njisane Phillip also wrote on his Twitter page, “these things happen in sport, support all the way not half way. Am proud of them.”