Surprise, regret and injury mixed at men’s 4x100m relay

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Europe

The men’s 4x100 meters relay concluded with mixed results at the London IAAF World Championships on Saturday.

Hosting nation Britain won the gold in 37.47 seconds, a new European record time, outpacing the US, Japan and China.

China took the fourth place in 38.34 seconds as the team’s third leg runner Su Bingtian got hit on the head by Britain's second leg Adam Gemili when the former started off his run.

Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian claims that he was hit on the head by Britain's second leg Adam Gemili when he started off his run. / CCTV

"When I started off, the (British) second leg suddenly gave me a hit because he was cheering for his teammate. At that time, I was just speeding up and it surely affected my speed," said Su. "I was taken back a little then."

The Chinese team has decided, however, not to appeal.

"The only thing I feel regretful is that we can't have a better result because this was the last time this team competed together at an international competition," said Su.

Britain eventually edged the United States for the victory and Japan took bronze.

The promising Jamaican team didn't finish the race. Its superstar Usain Bolt suffered an injury midway into his anchor leg of the relay and pulled out of the last race of his effulgent career.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica lays on the track after sustaining an injury. / Reuters Photo

Bolt, who suffered his first 100m defeat in nine years on August 5, apparently had a pulled left leg only 30 meters into the race. He limped to the finish line in agony.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency