Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Berlin, Germany:

Jamaica will have to overcome injury to their second-fastest runner, Asafa Powell, to add World Championships gold to the Olympic title they won in record time last year in Beijing.

Their task, however, was made a little easier just after midnight last night (in Berlin) when the United States were disqualified for a faulty third exchange after winning heat two in 37.97 seconds.

The Americans were disqualified following a protest by the British team, which claimed that the last changeover of the United States (US) team was out of the box.

After examining a video of the race, the track referee disqualified the United States.

The US filed an appeal, but this was thrown out. Brazil, who were fourth in heat one, will replace them in the final.

Uncertain changes

A Jamaican 'B' team comprising Lerone Clarke, Michael Frater, Steve Mullings and hurdler Dwight Thomas had some uncertain changes in the heats yesterday and clocked a relatively slow 38.60 seconds, just after rain had drenched the blue Berlin Olympic Stadium track. Italy won the heat in 38.52.

Jamaica and Canada, who were third in heat two, tied for the slowest qualifiers for today's final.

Frater, the top sprinter on the team which ran yesterday, said their main task was to get the baton around.

"We had some shaky handoffs out there but we got the job done. We have superman Usain Bolt, he will be on tomorrow. We are hoping that Asafa (Powell) will be there, but we are not sure about him. Usain (Bolt) will, however, be there with his game face on, and so hopefully everything goes well."

Frater said if Powell overcomes a nagging groin injury, the running order will be similar to that which obtained in Beijing. Mullings will run the opening leg, then to Frater, Bolt and Powell.

Striking distance

"If Asafa (Powell) is not there, we will have Bolt on anchor, and with him on anchor we are just hoping we have the stick close enough to get him in striking distance, because I think if he is five metres behind, he can catch anybody in the world."

If Powell is out, Frater said they would have a decision to make, as Thomas is a bit leg weary from two rounds of the hurdles in one day, while Clarke is a bit rusty after having just one race in a long time.

"But regardless (of who runs), I think we are going to go out there and give it our best shot," Frater said.

The women's sprint relay semi-finals and final are also scheduled for today, along with the heats of the men's and women's 4x400m.

In the women's sprint relay, 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser, silver medal winner Kerron Stewart and finalist Aleen Bailey are expected to run in the heats, along with 200m finalist Simone Facey. One of these runners will make way for Veronica Campbell-Brown in the final, which is set for 8 p.m here (1 p.m. Ja time).

The men's sprint relay final will be run 50 minutes later.