IBABS Chapter 61.2 — Post-Preliminary Interview & 4x100m Final

Zhao Zhixuan, China’s first runner, performed very steadily in the first leg tonight. His reaction time remained at 0.128 seconds, definitely not inferior among the eight teams!

US’s first runner unexpectedly made a mistake in his gun reaction, taking 0.172 seconds in the reaction phase, far exceeding what should have been America’s standard.

Among all teams, surprisingly, the fastest gun reaction wasn’t from powerhouses like the United States, Jamaica, or UK, but from Japan’s Shiraishi Shouta. His reaction speed tonight reached an astonishing 0.117 seconds, a speed that was almost at the limit of what is allowed. Any reaction time faster than 0.1 seconds would be considered a false start.

Taking advantage of his superior reaction speed, Shiraishi Shouta even temporarily overtook the American and Jamaican first runners during the starting phase, positioning himself second only to Great Britain¹.

But halfway through the first leg, Jamaica’s first runner accelerated in the latter part, gradually overtaking Shiraishi’s position. For a moment, the teams competing for the top three positions in the first leg were the unexpected trio of Great Britain, Japan, and Jamaica!

Just like in the morning preliminaries, Trinidad and Tobago made another major mistake in tonight’s finals. Their first runner’s reaction time was even slower than the already underperforming Team US!

The 0.233-second reaction time seemed to mock their completely substandard start.

China’s Zhao Zhixuan’s steady start gave him a certain advantage. During the first leg, he surprisingly maintained the fifth position and was never successfully overtaken by the trailing teams from Brazil, France, and Trinidad and Tobago.

On the second leg’s preparation line, Wang Ming also noticed Zhao Zhixuan’s current positional advantage. He stopped thinking about anything else and focused entirely on waiting for Zhao Zhixuan to reach the starting mark position.

Stay steady!

This was the only thought in Wang Ming’s mind, and he was firmly putting it into practice!

When Zhao Zhixuan’s figure reached the starting mark, Wang Ming immediately took off from the preparation line, beginning his acceleration process.

Behind him, Zhao Zhixuan and Wang Ming worked with perfect synchronization. Zhao Zhixuan didn’t need to slow his pace but continued maintaining his speed rushing forward. When Wang Ming completed his acceleration in the preparation zone, both men reached the exchange zone simultaneously. As Wang Ming finished his acceleration, Zhao Zhixuan called out the baton exchange signal from behind him.

“Wang-ge!”

“Take it!”

With these simple three words, Wang Ming unhesitatingly followed Zhao Zhixuan’s command and firmly grabbed the baton, entering the straight track to sprint for the second leg.

Wang Ming knew well that his speed held no advantage compared to other teams’ second runners. All he could do was run his best, avoid mistakes, and not become the weak link that dragged down the team.

Even under intense pressure, Wang Ming had performed exceptionally well so far!

Behind him, Brazil’s first and second runners made an error during their exchange. After barely completing their handoff, Brazil’s runner shouted loudly on the track to cheer on his next teammate. This action simultaneously affected both the French team and Trinidad and Tobago, causing slight errors in their exchanges as well.

Trinidad and Tobago’s first runner was furious at the Brazilian runner’s behavior, loudly accusing him of violating competition rules and interfering with other athletes. Suddenly, a somewhat chaotic situation erupted in the first exchange zone.

Brazil’s second runner and France’s second runner were both strong sprinters. Despite some mistakes, they quickly adjusted their conditions and began sprinting forward. As these two teams’ second runners accelerated, Wang Ming clearly felt the pressure mounting from behind.

But he wasn’t a seasoned veteran for nothing. Even when he felt others constantly closing in from behind, he didn’t panic. Instead, he focused entirely on controlling his breathing and rhythm, maintaining steady stride frequency and length, refusing to lose control due to surrounding influences.

Just as Brazil and France’s second runners were about to exchange with their third runners, Wang Ming also reached the third exchange zone!

Meng Hao! Stay steady!

Wang Ming silently repeated in his heart.

At the same time, Meng Hao had already seen him reach the starting mark and immediately launched into action, quickening his pace and rapidly completing his starting acceleration in the preparation zone.

Great acceleration!

Watching Meng Hao’s movements, Wang Ming’s eyes lit up. When both reached the optimal position in the exchange zone, Wang Ming called out loudly, “Meng-ge, take it!”

This time, Meng Hao’s movements were flawless, and Wang Ming’s baton pass was extremely steady and quick.

“Great!”

In the Chinese team’s seating area, Zheng Wensheng applauded and called out in approval after seeing the clean baton exchange between the second and third runners. Su Yinsheng also nodded in agreement. So far, all team members had successfully achieved the stability and smoothness he had emphasized, which was enough to build a solid foundation for China’s relay team’s final performance.

“Go! Go for it!!”

In front of livestream screens, Huang Wenye and many other sports fans like him who cared about the relay race, and even casual viewers, all instinctively tensed up due to the intense competition unfolding.

When Meng Hao received the baton, Brazil and France’s third runners were already neck and neck with him. This was a speed showdown on the curve!

Team China was in lane nine, the outermost lane. Although theoretically, athletes in lane nine experienced the least centrifugal force from the curved track and could better maintain their straight-track speed, in track events, lane nine was typically assigned to the four teams with the lowest qualifying times.

The mystical aspects of lane assignments were difficult to explain precisely.

What truly determined the results on the field was the athlete’s actual performance during competition.

Perhaps due to the frustration accumulated during the morning preliminaries, Meng Hao now felt an impulse to release the emotions he had suppressed all day.

He breathed deeply, controlling his breathing rate while unconsciously increasing his stride frequency on the track.

Thanks to lane nine’s theoretical biological advantage for athletes, Meng Hao indeed displayed almost his full straight-track potential on this lane!

The centrifugal force affecting him had decreased to a certain degree; he didn’t need to spend as much energy fighting against it as he had during the morning preliminaries.

At the commentary desk, Chris exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! China’s third runner! His speed on the curve is incredibly fast! He’s once again pulled away from the Brazilian and French runners who had nearly caught up with him!”

The spectators in the stadium also expressed surprise, followed by even more thunderous cheers.

The entire Celion Stadium was immersed in a feverish atmosphere. At the front of the track, the Jamaican runner had taken the lead, with Britain’s third runner not far behind. The American team’s exchange between their second and third runners hadn’t gone smoothly, resulting in Japan still holding the third position.

The real-time changes on the track were truly unpredictable. No one had imagined that halfway through the race, the American team would still be only in fourth place.

Meng Hao’s curve speed temporarily pulled away from the Brazilian and French runners behind him. He sprinted with all his might to complete the final dash on the curve. The handoff to the fourth runner was now within sight!

On the fourth leg’s preparation line, Su Zhe had already made himself fully ready. His eyes were fixed firmly on the starting mark behind him, his gaze sharp.

Meng Hao is here!

As Meng Hao reached the starting mark, Su Zhe quickly began his acceleration from the preparation line. The brief 10-meter preparation zone passed in an instant. By the time he entered the exchange zone, Su Zhe had completed his acceleration. As they approached the optimal position for the baton exchange, Meng Hao decisively called out, “Su Zhe, take it!”

This time, Meng Hao didn’t hesitate excessively, choosing to completely trust Su Zhe after passing the baton.

Su Zhe didn’t disappoint his trust and expectations, firmly grabbing the relay baton and quickly sprinting toward the finish line!

“Great! Well done!”

In the Chinese team’s area, Zheng Wensheng’s face lit up with delight. Up until now, the Chinese team had maintained fifth position, and now it was Su Zhe’s responsibility for the final leg!

After overcoming the challenge of the baton exchange, Su Zhe’s proven abilities in the final sprint instantly raised everyone’s expectations to the highest point!

Behind Su Zhe, Brazil and France also completed their final baton exchanges. Trinidad and Tobago, due to multiple mistakes, had fallen far behind in last place with no hope of catching up.

Ahead of the Chinese team, America’s anchor Gates lived up to his reputation as a 100-meter star. After smoothly receiving the baton, he overtook Japan’s anchor Minamiyama Yuki with overwhelming speed and continued sprinting, attempting to overtake Britain’s anchor even further ahead.

Brazil and France’s anchors were also trying to chase down Su Zhe, but for Su Zhe, who had already completed his initial acceleration phase and entered his top-speed running state, he was confident that no one behind him would have the opportunity to overtake him on this 100-meter track!

Just as Su Zhe had confidently predicted, Brazil’s anchor, and France’s anchor Adrian were astonished to discover that not only were they unable to close the gap with the Chinese runner, but the distance between them was actually widening!

How is this possible?!

Could there really be such a large difference in ability between them?!

The minds of Brazil and France’s anchors were filled with disbelief. This final runner from China was even stronger than they had imagined!

In the spectator stands, all the audience members were caught up in this crazy final showdown. Everyone shouted until their voices cracked, and even the commentators Chris and Bills had become hoarse.

“Gates is closing in on Britain’s Barrigan, while Hilm in front still maintains a certain advantage!”

“China’s Su Zhe is steadily closing the gap with Japan’s Minamiyama Yuki ahead of him, the distance between them is gradually shrinking!”

“The final 20 meters sprint!”

Su Zhe’s eyes were fixed on Minamiyama Yuki ahead. There was still a considerable distance between them. Japan’s performance today was excellent, but China’s team had also given their all tonight.

After entering the sprint stage, Minamiyama Yuki displayed his status as Japan’s top runner. Even with top competitors like Gates, Hilm, and Barrigan ahead, he continued pursuing them relentlessly.

If Minamiyama Yuki hadn’t given up hope in the final sprint, how could he easily admit defeat?

That was impossible!

Su Zhe continuously adjusted his breathing rhythm, relying on his late-stage acceleration ability to gradually close the distance with Minamiyama Yuki.

Three meters, two meters, one meter…

In the final 20-meter sprint, when both athletes had similar abilities and were performing at comparable levels, trying to make up for earlier gaps had become extremely difficult.

This final 20-meter sprint and struggle resembled more of a battle of will and determination.

Sprint forward!

Don’t give up even the slightest hope, no matter how slim that hope might be.

Su Zhe maintained this unwavering and relentless determination as he completed his final sprint segment.

Minamiyama Yuki clearly noticed someone gradually closing in from behind. He likewise pressed firmly toward the finish line, sparing no extra energy for the pursuer steadily approaching from behind.

When Jamaica’s Hilm was the first to dip across the finish line, Gates and Barrigan followed at almost identical speeds, completing their own dips.

Minamiyama Yuki completed his sprint shortly after, followed closely by Su Zhe, who had nearly caught up to him.

Fifth place!

Just fifth…

After crossing the line, Su Zhe still clenched his fists in disappointment. Whether in the morning preliminaries or now in the finals, he still hadn’t managed to achieve a dominant comeback.

In front of him, Minamiyama Yuki, who was also completing his deceleration, looked back at Su Zhe and showed a surprised expression tinged with relief. Then, he gave Su Zhe a thumbs-up, expressing his admiration.

In the Chinese team’s seating area, Zheng Wensheng displayed a satisfied smile.

Su Zhe had done his absolute best, and all these young men on the relay team had each performed to their maximum potential!

Fifth place!

Zheng Wensheng clenched his fists in front of him and waved them excitedly. This… this was really great!