2021 mOG 4x1: you sure you wanna open this one?

[FleetingRedux]

...Leaving the door wide-open for Tortu to snatch the gold medal off his neck. How fast has Tortu gone this year?

Mitchell-Blake has regressed terribly over the years. He should be ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have given up that lead.

[booond]

Your right. 19.95 while at LSU in 2016. Also a 100m PB of 9.99 while at LSU in 2017. Both his 100 and 200 have gotten significantly slower since.

In 2021 he has only run 10.28 and 20.56

He's had leg injuries, too.

[Alcyallen]

I have seen that a few times, guys who ran better with stick in hand. Just saw another one in Tortu.

[Track78]

Tortu's running style and mechanics are things of beauty and he has always nailed his dip at the line and today it proved the difference. Brilliant run, but he did not outrun Andre De Grasse, not even close. De Grasse made up a ton of ground over the first 80m on everyone, Italy and GB were us too far in front.

[Weights&Shoes]

Tortu's running style and mechanics are things of beauty and he has always nailed his dip at the line and today it proved the difference.

Yup.

Hope he continues to grow (work on that start, 1st 30 metres more) and does more 200s regularly.

[Alcyallen]

Guessing the Italians used that long second leg thing by getting Jordan the stick early then him handing off late, always a smart move.

Think it started with Armin Hary in 1960.

[_Jay]

Italy’s passes were a thing of beauty. Monster leg by Jacobs, and incredible anchor from Tortu to walk down GB.

The last pass to Tortu, in full flight, with no delay, was textbook. *chefs Kiss.

Type of passing the US can only dream about man. 🤦🏽♂️

[_Jay]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CSNCb..._web_copy_link

Kenny B explaining that a couple days before he was even set to run the 200m, he was asking his coach if there was any word on what would happen with the 4x1, if they would practice etc, but he just said there was no communication at all from Team USA.

USA relay coaches are the best in the world!

Just watched this interview last night. Pitiful. I’m glad he put it out there. You could hear the frustration in his voice. SMH.

[Conor Dary]

How could they not practice...

[Paced]

Mitchell-Blake held on at the World Championships in 2017 by .05, he held on in Gateshead earlier this year by .02, but he couldn't hold on tonight, losing by .01... He was furious with himself, but based on his sprint form this year, it wasn't a huge surprise. They need to get Prescod in that training camp because he should be introduced as their anchor moving forward, at least until Mitchell-Blake regains his form.

Man what an anchor by Tortu. It looked like he may have even run away from De Grasse, who might just have been a bit tired after running so many races (including the 4x1 heats). Jamaica's passes were almost as bad as the women's, but they obviously didn't have the footspeed to make up for it like they did.

[Paced]

Just watched a YouTube video of the finish....appears to me the GB anchor went into a "swim" motion with his
left arm two strides from the line. Don't know if that is his MO. But the ITA anchor's classic dip with both arms thrown back was timed perfectly....and made the difference.

Yeah looked like he started tying up. I feel like that's typical for him though, just that in 2017 he was in good enough shape to not lose significantly ground to Coleman.

[Track78]

Yeah and also Tortu didn't run away from De Grasse! But definitely held him off much better than in the semi yesterday. Andre was wayyyyy down at the last exchange.

[einnod23]

Great anchor by Italy! No one, I mean no one, thought a dude like Jacobs would have TWO Golds!

[Mr Lover Lover]

Great anchor by Italy! No one, I mean no one, thought a dude like Jacobs would have TWO Golds!

So what do we expect from Jacobs going into Eugene? 9.7 to push on? It's what it will take to beat a Coleman at his best.

[Trackrunner]

The more I read about Lamont Marcell Jacobs (they call him Marcell) the more I think it was a case of the stars aligning perfectly that brought him to this most unlikely place. It is like a Hollywood made for TV movie. But Tokyo 2020 could be the summit for him.

With Bolt retired from sprinting, no Coleman, Bromell missing the cut and inspired by the unexpected win of his team mate Tamberi in the high jump and also reconnecting with his father who texted him hours before the race to tell him he believed he could win, Marcell dug deep within himself and did the unexpected - not just qualify for the final of an Olympic 100M final (the first Italian to do so!) but also win.

This is like Bingtian Su producing that 9.83 PB in the semi-final to become the first Chinese to qualify for a 100M final. Unfortunately he could not produce the magic again - that semi-final time would have got him silver in the final.

Marcell was able to produce the magic in the moment when it counted most. It'll make a great movie. Roll the credits right there. Coleman will be back soon. So will Bromell. Kerley is only going to get better. Jamaica had a down year but will be back. You follow where I'm going. This is likely the top of the hill for Marcell, quite an accomplishment in and of itself and has all the makings of a made for TV movie. But it may be downhill from here. I want to be wrong though because I like what I've read about him and want him to go further in the sport.