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Americans' Dominance on Display with Convincing Win at Athletics World Cup

Published by
DyeStat.com   Jul 15th 2018, 10:57pm
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U.S. wins six events on second day, including men’s 4x400 relay, to capture inaugural Platinum Trophy and $2 million prize in London

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Perhaps there was no better embodiment of the significance of the inaugural Athletics World Cup than from American high jumper Vashti Cunningham.

“What a feeling being up there with the whole team holding the flag and trophy,” Cunningham said.

For Cunningham, who turned professional while still in high school and who has captured national and world titles for the U.S. before age 20, the opportunity to stand on stage at Olympic Stadium in London surrounded by 40 teammates all draped in American flags as captain Queen Harrison held the inaugural Platinum Trophy was a powerful and profound moment.

Cunningham produced one of six victories Sunday by clearing a season-best 6 feet, 5 inches (1.96m) for the Americans, who capped the meet with a final triumph in the men’s 4x400-meter relay in 2 minutes, 59.78 seconds to punctuate a 219-162 victory over Poland. Despite not running the men’s 4x400, Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished third with 155 points.

Paul Dedewo contributed a pair of those wins, posting a lifetime-best 44.48 in the 400, then running with Nathan Strother, Obi Igbokwe and Kahmari Montgomery to secure victory in the 4x400.

“It was amazing. It is my first win for the USA in an international competition, so to do it in a personal best is amazing. That was the icing on the cake,” Dedewo said. “This stadium is amazing. I have heard stories that London is great for track and field, and to witness it first hand, it is true.”

Dedewo was one of three members of Team USA, along with Sam Kendricks and Jenna Prandini, to participate in the Diamond League meeting Friday in Rabat, Morocco, before flying to London to compete Sunday in the eight-nation, two-day event, with the Americans splitting a champions’ prize pool of $2 million.

Kendricks won the pole vault in the same stadium in which he captured the gold medal last year at the IAAF World Championships, clearing 19-1.50 (5.83m), before taking three attempts at the American record 19-10.25 (6.05m).

“I love this stadium. I love London and I love to compete here. They make it so easy for me to come here, and fun too. The crowd are so close to the boards and they really want us to jump well, too, which is great,” Kendricks said. “I jumped in Rabat on Friday to secure my spot in the Diamond League, then I came here, but I am a professional jumper, so I can do it and I’ve got to keep jumping. Then I came here and I really had to pull it together to jump well.”

Kendricks and Cunningham produced the only field-event victories Sunday for the Americans, who also received wins on the track from Raevyn Rogers in the women’s 800 and Kenny Selmon in the men’s 400 hurdles.

“It’s not since I was college and in high school that I got to compete as a team for the points and it’s cool,” Kendricks said. “It’s like a game. You can see that not everyone can be their best on the day, but we all have to bring a little bit extra, so that the team can do better.”

Even a leg injury to Mikiah Brisco, who fell to the track before she could make the first exchange in the women’s 4x100 relay, wasn’t enough to derail the momentum of the U.S., which had the Platinum Trophy mathematically clinched with six events remaining after Rogers’ victory in 2:00.20.

“It reminds me of the collegiate setting. Everyone has to work together and perform in their own event and do the best they can and respond to things, which don’t go our way,” Rogers said. “It is the first time I have been at this stadium and it is like an indoor stadium. The atmosphere is amazing and to be able to run on this track in this new competition, with so many talented athletes means a lot to me.”

Selmon clocked 48.97 to win in only his second career race in Europe.

“It was so cool. Being in this stadium is just unreal. It is one of the first times I have really felt like, ‘Oh my God, I have to really keep pushing myself for the crowd.’ The crowd was unreal and I love being here,” Selmon said. “It’s a huge confidence boost because you have got world and national champions here, so to come out here and get the win for the USA is big for me.”

The Americans also received second-place finishes from Keturah Orji in the women’s triple jump, Zack Bazile in the men’s long jump, Kendal Williams in the men’s 100 and Prandini in the women’s 200.

Aside from the women’s 4x100 relay injury, the U.S. finished no worse than fourth in the remaining 16 events Sunday.

“I like the concept of the event. I think it is new and it brings something fresh to the track,” Williams said. “We could definitely use more events like this, events that are not so focused on individuals. I think it is a really nice event and a really cool concept.”

Poland was involved in a back-and-forth battle throughout Sunday’s schedule with Great Britain for second place, with the teams entering the 4x400 tied at 155. But when Great Britain scratched the race when Cameron Chalmers injured himself during warmups, Poland took runner-up in 3:02.80 to finish second overall.

Poland received wins from Marcin Lewandowski in the men’s 1,500 in 3:52.88 and Wojciech Nowicki in the men’s hammer throw with a first-round effort of 255-8 (77.94m).

Jamaica secured victories in the men’s 100 with Tyquendo Tracey clocking a wind-legal 10.03, Shericka Jackson in the women’s 200 in a wind-legal 22.35 and Shanieka Ricketts in the women’s triple jump with personal-best leap of 47-11.25 (14.61m) in the third round to hand Orji her first outdoor defeat since 2016.

Orji, an eight-time NCAA Division 1 champion and three-time USATF Outdoor winner, jumped 47-10.75 (14.60m) in the third round.

Germany produced a pair of field-event victories, with Julian Weber winning the men’s javelin with a first-round throw of 271-8 (82.80m) and Claudine Vita prevailing in the women’s discus with a second-round effort of 206-5 (62.92m).

South Africa also won twice, with Luvo Manyonga opening the men’s long jump competition with an insurmountable mark of 27-11 (8.51m), and Rikenette Steenkamp securing victory in the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.88.

Chinese captain Lijiao Gong won the women’s shot put, capping the competition with a mark of 65-3.50 (19.90m). Great Britain captured the women’s 4x100 relay in 42.52, the first track victory for the hosts after pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw and long jumper Lorraine Ugen won Saturday.



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