Canada wins men’s 4x200m gold at IAAF World Relays

Canada won its first-ever gold at the IAAF World Relays.

The men’s 4x200m squad ran to victory on Sunday in Nassau, Bahamas at the third annual world relays, which serve as a qualifier for the greater IAAF World Championships in London.

MEDAL ALERT: GOLD!! ?for ??4 x 200 men at #IAAFWorldRelays pic.twitter.com/UJHMksvbL0

— Commonwealth Sport Canada (@CwthSportCAN) April 24, 2017

The quartet of Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse and Aaron Brown completed the two-lap race in 1:19.42 to win gold in the lesser-contested event. The 4x100m and 4x400m are run at the world championship level while the 4x200m is not. Canada beat out the Americans, who ran 1:19.88. The Jamaicans, running without Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, finished third.

Brown anchored the men’s relay squad while triple Olympic medallist De Grasse was on the third leg. Canada notably won bronze in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics last August.

Video

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RACE.

Notable Canadian results (per Athletics Canada)

Men’s 4x100m
Heats: 38.21, winner (heat two) with overall fastest time
Final: DNF (dropped baton)

Women’s 4x100m
Heats: 44.98, sixth place (heat one)
B Final: DQ (exchange zone violation)

Men’s 4x200m
Heats: 1:21.11, winner (heat one) with overall fastest time
Final: 1:19.42, gold

Women’s 4x400m
Heats: 3:33.54, third place (heat two)
B Final: 3:35.07, second

Men’s 4x400m
Heats: 3:08.05, sixth place (heat one)
B Final: 3:12.52, seventh