ATHLETICS: Australia’s men’s 4x100 metre relay team have finished seventh in a star studded final that saw Usain Bolt’s Jamaican team smash their own world record with a stunning 36.84.

The team of Anthony Alozie, Isaac Ntiamoah, Andrew McCabe and Joshua Ross posted a time of 38.43. The quartet had tied the Australian record at 38.17 when they finished fifth in the second of two heats, and seventh fastest overall, yesterday.

For Jamaica the first three runners -  Nestor Carter, Michael Frater and Yohan Blake kept pace with the field before Bolt simply blew the opposition away in typical style. The USA were not to be disgraced in second, equalling the old world record of 37.04, with Trinidad and Tobago (38.12) a distant third.

Alozie, Ntiamoah and McCabe, who is just 21, have all made their Olympic debuts here in London, while Ross was part of the Australian 4x100m team that was sixth in Athens in 2004. They will all benefit from the experience.

Nigerian born Alozie, 25, did not get the most crisp of starts before picking up some ground but despite their best efforts the Australians were no match for the Jamaicans and USA. They proved however that in coming years with a little improvement and some luck, that they could challenge for a medal.

Alozie said racing in such a high calibre final was out of this world.

“It was really awesome, I can’t really express the feelings of being in that final,” Alozie said.
 
“We did our best. It was good for the team together.”
 
Ntiamoah said he concentrated hard on not worrying about the big names in other lanes.

“I wasn’t really focussed on them, I was just mainly worried about Anthony and him coming into me and making sure I did my job right,” Ntiamoah said.
 
“That’s taking off on time and making sure I get the baton from him.”

While young McCabe expressed his amazement at the scene he’d just been part of.

“Words can’t explain it,” McCabe said. “This has been my goal since i was 10, I’m now here, I’ve done it and I look forward to Rio.”
 
Dave Lyall at the Olympic Stadium
Olympics.com.au