Chambers (left) - just edged out
SPRINTERS SQUEEZED INTO SECOND
By Ian Gordon, PA Sport, Paris
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Britain's sprint relay quartet had to settle for silver after being beaten by
the United States at the World Championships in Paris on Sunday.
European champion Dwain Chambers was just caught on the line at the Stade de
France having taken over on the anchor leg with a slight advantage.
The quartet of Christian Malcolm, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and
Chambers clocked 38.08seconds but missed out on gold by 0.02secs.
It was Britain's third medal of the championships following Campbell's bronze
in the 100m and Kelly Holmes' 800m silver.
The Americans looked vulnerable with world record holder Tim Montgomery and Jon
Drummond absent for varying reasons and former world record holder Maurice
Greene injured.
But they could still count on John Capel and Darvis Patton who won gold and
silver in the 200m where Campbell finished fourth.
Capel gave the Americans the advantage on the first leg only for excellent
runs from Campbell and Devonish to put the Brits within sight of a much-needed
gold.
But Johnson, a 200m specialist, produced a storming run down the home straight
to snatch the title from Britain's clutches.
The disappointment of missing out on a maiden world 4x100m relay title
followed soon after the destruction of Steve Backley's hopes of finally landing
World Championship gold in the javelin.
The 34-year-old, twice a silver medallist, was ninth overall after his first
three throws and missed the cut-off point by just 21 centimetres.
Backley, who had been left sweating on making the final at the Stade de France
after a below par display in qualifying last Friday, again could not find his
true form.
This was Backley's last chance of winning the title that has proved so elusive
as he plans on quitting after next year's Olympics where he will be searching
for his first Games gold.
The four-time European champion's best effort of 80.13m with his third throw
was not enough to dislodge Germany's Peter Blank from eighth spot.
It was also another blow to Britain's hopes of adding to their meagre medal
tally on the final day of the championships.
"I felt good in my mind and was up for it from an emotional point of view,
but my body did not react in the way I wanted it to," said Backley, who
insisted he would carry on until Athens.
"I was really pushing but my legs just felt heavy and my run-up was jerky
rather than smooth. I have not timed it right all year and its been costing me
six or seven metres.
"It's frustrating because I am seeing guys I can beat making throws that are
not far in an arena where I usually throw well in."
Russia's Sergey Makarov, who finished second behind Backley at last year's
Europeans, won his first world title with his first round effort of 85.44m.
Estonia's Andrus Varnik was second (85.17) with Germany's Boris Henry (84.74)
taking the bronze while three-time Olympic and world champion Jan Zelezny of the
Czech Republic had to settle for fourth (84.09m).
