Cruel twist shatters men’s 4x400m relay dream as disqualification cancels out strong performance

AUSTRALIA has been sensationally disqualified in the 4x400m relay after a mistake by Steve Solomon during the final changeover.

AUSTRALIA has been sensationally disqualified in the 4x400m relay after a mistake by Steve Solomon during the final changeover.

It was a cruel twist given Solomon went on to run an inspired leg moving the Aussies from fifth to third position which automatically put them through to the final.

The rule states each runner lines up in order of where their teammate is at the 200m mark.

Unfortunately Australia’s third runner Joshua Ralph was behind his Trinidad and Tobago opponent on the turn but passed him in the home straight which caused Solomon to move ahead in the changeover line.

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Australia’s 4x400m relay team were disqualfied from the event on the final changeover.

Earlier Ryan Gregson confirmed his class with an inspired 1500m heat run while an emotionally spent Luke Mathews also scrapped through to tomorrow’s final.

Gregson, the reigning national champion and Australian record holder, showed he’s in the medal mix with a brilliantly controlled performance.

The 27-year-old, who failed to get out of the heat in Glasgow four years ago, surged home over the final 300m to finish second (3min43.06sec) behind Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot.

#ICYMI

The 🇦🇺 Australian men's 4x400m relay team was earlier disqualified from the event for this changeover. #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/spBDQdp4Iv

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) 13 April 2018

Mathews was clearly suffering after his 800m heroics the previous evening but managed to scrape through as one of the four next fastest qualifiers after he finished seventh in 3:47.08 sec.

The third Australian, Jordan Williamsz, also got through in the final qualifying spot after finishing fifth in the second heat in 3:47.75 sec.

Solomon ran an inspired final leg but unfortunately Australia won’t advance.

Gregson said he was desperate to seize the opportunity which a home Commonwealth Games presents.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I really enjoyed it out there,” he said. “I’m in great shape and I was a bit like Winx out there, people get worried about her sometimes but she relaxes and stays out of trouble.

“That’s what I was doing, sitting back and relaxing early. That’s how I race best and feel most comfortable.”

Mathews admitted the emotional high of his career breakthrough in winning a bronze medal 12 hours earlier had hurt in him the heat.

The team were shattered to miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on home soil.

“I’m a little disappointed with that but it’s hard not to look back on the bronze medal,” he said.

“That was the climax of a lot of emotions, it was a magical moment.”

In the men’s 4x100m relay it took the 100m gold medallist to run down Australia on the line.

South Africa’s Akani Simbine charged at Australia’s Josh Clarke over the final stages of the qualifying round to grab the victory.

With the first two teams automatically through to tomorrow’s final, Australia did it easily with a significant gap to third placed Sri Lanka.

The Australian team, who went in order of Trae Williams, Rohan Browning, Jack Hale and Clarke, produced a season’s best 38.78 sec.

England qualified fastest in the second heat recording a scorching 38.15 sec to comfortably beat Jamaica who required some heroics from Yohan Blake over the final leg to grab second.

Originally published as Cruel twist shatters men’s 4x400m relay dream as disqualification cancels out strong performance