“We just can’t seem to get over the hump; I am very disappointed and angry. I just want to win,” said 2004 Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford at the Penn Relays 'US vs. The World' 4x1 post-race press conference Saturday afternoon. Lately we also seem to be messing up on our relay team and somehow, I am always involved. I am tired of losing.”
The USA Blue Team of Walter Dix, Shawn Crawford, Mike Rodgers and Ivory Williams (running in that order) were beaten into 2nd place (38.33 secs) by one of the two Jamaican teams (37.90 secs) made up of Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Usain Bolt (in that order), from the Racer Track Club in Jamaica.
“We have a great group of individuals on this team but somehow when we get to the big meets we are messing up.” said Crawford.
When asked if they practiced on their exchanges Crawford said that, “we are professionals and there are no excuses for us not getting it [baton change] right”.
“I am 32 years old, and I have been doing this for a while; if I can’t get it together then I may have to retire.” Crawford joked.
Ivory Williams, who anchored the team against Bolt, said that he just focused on his race. “When I hear the crowd cheering for Bolt, I feel that they are cheering for me, too,” he said.
Mike Rodgers was more direct in his comment
: “They [the Jamaicans] came into our house and beat us.
I am not happy about that.”