NCAA Track and Field: Can Jamaican Champion’s Quartet Break the Iconic Team USA Blue’s 24 YO Record?

Brace yourself to witness track and field history in the making. As the powerhouse of the quartet is gearing up for a whirlwind of speed and a showdown of record-breaking potential. The team of Dina Asher-Smith, Lanae Tava-Thomas, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Julien Alfred are different in so many ways. All four athletes belong to different countries and yet, one thing has kept them unified- a dream of breaking the 4x200m relay world record! 

As a matter of fact, the world record has remained unscathed for 24 years, and chasing the same will take some serious performance. However, the current form of all four training partners has ignited a glimmer of hope about a potential new World Record in the making at the upcoming Texas Relays. 

96th Texas Relay to kick off this weekend

The dates for the 2024 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays have been announced. This event is hosted on an annual basis comprising all the NCAA track and field athletes. It is typically hosted in early April, with the University of Texas taking care of the hospitality. The event was initially started in the year 1925 and continued as a men’s exclusive tournament until 1963.

Over the years, the tournament has grown in stature and currently, it is touted as the second biggest track and field competition in the US.  Boasting a viewership of 50000 and participation of 5000, it serves as one of the brightest platforms for young athletes to showcase their talents. Thus, it is understandable why the team of Dina Asher-Smith and co. are so eager to break the world record and make a mark on the grand stage. 

Breaking track and field boundaries for excellence: Dina Asher-Smith and team

All four NCAA athletes come from completely different backgrounds and heritages. For example, Julian Alfred hails from St. Lucia, Rhasidat Adeleke from Ireland, Lanae Tava-Thomas from Jamaica, and Dina Asher-Smith from Britain. But such differences have shattered in the face of their unified dream of breaking the world record. And rightly so, all four of the budding athletes have enough reasons to be confident about. 

Alfred is a proud holder of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 100m discipline. She is also the joint indoor record holder for the North American 60m category. Adeleke, on the other hand, has mustered a 100 & 200m double at the 2021 U20 European Athletics Championships.

Lanae Tava Thomas too, won the 2019 U20 Pan American gold in 200m, stamping her authority over the track and field realm. Lastly, Dina Asher-Smith, arguably the best of the lot, reigns supreme in the British 100m, 200m, and 4x100m categories by clocking the fastest time in all of them. All these talents combined, it is not surprising for them to aim for a new 4x200m relay world record. 

Read More: Disappointment Continues As Dina Asher-Smith Announces Yet Another Meet Exit Over Unknown Reason

The track and field world record at stake

Back on April 29, 2000, at the Penn Relays, history was made in the female category of 4x200m discipline. Riding high on the back of Team USA “Blue”, the group of Marion Jones, Nanceen Perry, LaTasha Colander-Richardson, and LaTasha Jenkins clocked 1:27:46. Since then, many athletes have taken a shot at the record, but failed to overcome the hurdle. 

However, taking a look at how the team of Dina Asher-Smith and her teammates fared in the previous installment of the competition, the dream might soon become a reality. Last year, these athletes clinched a new collegiate record by clocking 1:28:05 in the category. Interestingly, these numbers are tantalizingly close to the world record they are aiming for. Will they be finally able to fulfill their dreams? Here’s a detailed breakdown of their chances in the Texas Relay. 

Can the dream of Dina Asher-Smith and the team come true? 

With the quartet coming together from different parts of the world all of them are shining bright in their own tracks. Alfred became the first and the fastest college athlete to run sub-7 seconds in the 60 with her time of 6.97 securing a win at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. And Adeleke is the first Irish woman to create a record by shattering the 50-second barrier in the 400 meters.

On the other hand, Thomas has come out as the NCAA champion twice besides finishing in the third position at the Jamaican National Championship in 2023. And to add another feather to the crown Asher-Smith currently holds the title of being the fastest woman with several accolades under her name. 

Thus the current record standing at 1:27:46 and Adeleke, Thomas, Davis, and Alfred clocking at 1:28:05 last year has already created a buzz in the hearts of sports enthusiasts as they are awaiting a record-breaking performance from Asher-Smith and team this year. With the addition of Smith to the team, the goal must appear nearer to the team. But, besides them, a new team might also emerge as the dark horse and steal the world record from behind. What are your thoughts on the same? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Continue to Read: Track and Field: Dina Asher-Smith Pauses Midway; Makes Way for Rival Julien Alfred to a New World Lead