London 2012 Olympics: 400m relay team bid for medal in final

Great Britain's Jack Green hands the baton to Martyn Rooney during the Men's 4x400m relay at the Olympic Stadium during day thirteen of the London 2012 Olympics. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday August 9, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Athletics. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Nicholas Cecil Peter Dominiczak

9 August 2012

Jack Green brushed aside a bitter Olympic setback to send Britain’s 400 metre relay team storming into the final today.

Team GB finished second in the first heat, being pipped to first place on the finishing line by Trinidad and Tobago.

Britain was trailing in penultimate place after Nigel Levine, 23, struggled in the first lap.

But a storming run by Londoner Conrad Williams put Britain back in the race.

Green then powered round the track to hand over with team GB back level-pegging.

The 20-year-old from Kent showed fighting spirit to put in such a strong performance after the huge disappointment of crashing out of the 400 metre hurdles when he hit the third hurdle in the semi-final.

Croydon’s Martyn Rooney then raced round to lead down the final straight but was just beaten by Deon Lendore from Trinidad and Tobago.

After the race Rooney stressed Britain could have won the race.

"I made a rookie mistake by not dipping at the end,” he said.

"I'm excited and proud of the guys. We can get a medal."

The crowd roared encouragement to drive Rooney around the track and afterwards Levine said: "It's great to be here in front of the home crowd.

"We've got the opportunity tomorrow to show everyone what we can do."

Britain qualified with a time of 3.00.38 minutes – a season’s best.

Both the Jamaican and South African teams failed to finish the race.

In the final tomorrow night, Britain will face a medals battle with the Bahamas, America and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamas just beat the Americans in the second heat.

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