Watson, Canada DQ’d in relay

By Medicine Hat News on October 8, 2019.

Sage Watson and Canada’s 4×400 metre women’s relay team got close to the podium as the world track and field championships ended Sunday, but didn’t get the result they hoped for.

Though the Medicine Hat 400 hurdles finalist crossed the line fifth in Doha, Qatar, a lane problem during the first exchange resulted in the team being disqualified.

After anchoring the team to a third-place finish in their Saturday semifinal heat, Watson took the baton in the final with her side in seventh with 400 metres to go. She outpaced Belgium, Ukraine and the Netherlands to cross in fifth before the disqualification was announced later.

The United States won in 3:18.92, followed by Poland and Jamaica. Canada’s time of 3:25.91 was five-hundredths slower than their semifinal.

After setting a 23-year-old Canadian record in the 400 hurdles, Watson has earned some down time before she starts to ramp back up for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo.

Canadians combined for a silver and four bronze medals at worlds, far better than two years ago when they didn’t win any medals in London.