ago.22.2008

The Trinidad and Tobago men's 4 x 100 relay team would ahve awoken on day 14 of the Beijing Olympics elated at the fact that they are in today's final.But in the back of their minds elatation would be tempered by the reality that it could all come to nought if they do not execute a flawless baton exchange.
A reality that turned nightmarish on a rainy Thursday night at the Bird's Nest Stadium.A nest is usually a secure place ,but not so on the night for a number of teams including the USA men and women ,Great Britain,France and the T&T women's 4 x 100 quartet.They all suffered the same fate,botched or dropped batons .
The T&T men qualified with the fastest time by virtue of their first place in heat one.Jamaica minus Usain Bolt had the second fastest time in their heat two win.
T&T will enter the Bird's Nest as one of the fancied teams  to come away with a medal.Here in Beijing ,Jamaica with Usian Bolt are the pundits pick to win the gold medal .
But as the USA and the T&T women's team were so tellingly reminded the stick must cross the finish line.
Keston Bledman,Marc Burns,Aaron Armstrong and Richard Thompson will need no reminding.