Featured image credit: Coach Sayon Cooper (Liberia 4×100 men’s team).
On Sunday June 26, Team Liberia wrapped up its appearance in Trinidad and Tobago. During the NAAATT Open Championships, the Liberia men’s 4×100 team made its debut and became part of a record-setting history.
As already reported, 100m sprinter Emmanuel Matadi ran 9.98 on day one. This time allowed him to regain the men’s 100m national record. In addition to regaining the record, Matadi solidified his spot at the upcoming World Championships in Oregon, USA. Matadi’s historic time makes him the first sprinter to run the 100m race in under 10 seconds for Liberia. But history didn’t stop there.
The Liberia men’s 4×100 team competed on the third and final day of the event. Wellington Zaza, Akeem Sirleaf and Joseph Fahnbulleh joined Matadi on the track. The highly anticipated race was met with huge expectations. During the race, the group delivered on those expectations, breaking an almost 22-year-old record.
Liberia finished the relay in first place with a time of 38.76. The former record was 39.77, set at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Fans around the world celebrated the long awaited moment.
Liberia, in Lane 3, finishes first clocking in at 38.76. https://t.co/CYkmcmUWQH pic.twitter.com/LyunyShjjA
— Go Team Liberia (@goteamliberia) June 27, 2022
Although the team had an amazing debut, their record-setting-time did not safely secure a spot at the World Championships. Only 16 men’s 4×100 teams will compete in Oregon. Liberia’s relay team narrowly missed the mark.