Canadian men’s 4×100 team advances to final at world championships

EUGENE, Ore.—Canada’s top sprinters have earned themselves one last chance to win a medal at the world championships.

Andre De Grasse returned to Hayward Field stadium Friday night to bring the men’s 4×100-metre relay team across the line in 38.10 seconds to qualify third for Saturday’s final.

The Americans, who swept the podiums in the men’s 100 and 200 metres, qualified first in a world-leading time of 37.87 seconds.

“I’m happy to be back out here,” De Grasse said right after the race.

The 27-year-old from Markham was battling a bout of COVID-19 a few weeks ago and, though he came here hoping to contest all three sprint events, he failed to qualify for the 100-metre final and pulled out of the 200-metre event entirely.

“I think we have a great shot of being on top of the podium (Saturday) night, so I definitely didn’t want to miss that,” he said. “I got some rest over the last couple of days and I’m feeling a lot better.”

Canada’s relay team of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and De Grasse is the same team that won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and they say they’re only getting stronger with experience.

“I’m ready to rock,” said Brown, the only Canadian to advance through the rounds and make both the 100- and 200-metre finals here. He finished eighth in the 100 and seventh in 200.

“I knew what I signed up for — eight races. Number eight coming up and I’m still feeling good, ready to run,” Brown said.

Canada’s women’s team of Crystal Emmanuel, Khamica Bingham, Jacqueline Madogo, Leya Buchanan finished 10th and did not advance.

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