Upset Blake blames coach for relay foul-up

NASSAU, Bahamas:

Jamaica's World Relays team management here refused to comment on Yohan Blake's frustrations following a botched baton exchange in the heats of the men's 4x100m on Saturday.

Blake blamed technical staff for the incident in which Kemar Bailey-Cole failed to successfully pass the stick to Jevaughn Minzie on the second exchange during the opening heat of the event at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

The botched exchange resulted in Jamaica's disqualification. Blake said the Jamaican technical team should shoulder the blame.

"I think Jamaica are making some big mistakes, some terrible mistakes. We are not picking the right teams and so everything is just atrocious," said Blake.

"It is hard luck for the younger guys. I just don't know how to describe it," he added.

Incidentally, Minzie, who was on the third leg receiving the baton from Bailey-Cole, has been more used in the past to start relays and is normally in the position of handing over than receiving a baton.

Blake said he came to the Bahamas to get his relay season underway.

"This set me back a lot because we have been looking forward to get back our title. I am in excellent shape and I was raring to go," he added.

Jamaica won the event in 2014 but finished second to the United States in 2015.

Yesterday, a member of the management staff distanced himself from Blake's comments, referring STAR Sports to the coaching staff.

On Saturday the Jamaican quartet had got off to a brilliant start when Everton Clarke out-sprinted his rivals to hand over to Bailey-Cole.

Meanwhile, entering yesterday's final day of competition, Jamaica had won one gold medal in the women's 4x200m relay team. The team of Elaine Thompson - who anchored - Shericka Jackson, Sashalee Forbes, and Jura Levy, won in a new championship record 1:29.04.