My dream relay team – Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice

In the last of our series ahead of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 set for Nassau on 22-23 April, we ask 1984 Olympic 400m silver medallist Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice to select her all-star women’s 4x400m team.

First leg: Valerie Brisco-Hooks (USA)

1984 Olympic 200m and 400m champion

Valerie (who beat Cheeseborough-Guice to Olympic 400m gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games) was an awesome runner and I have put her on first leg because I know she could split a 48 (second) leg. Valerie was always such a great competitor, a really aggressive runner and a hard worker.

Second leg: Cathy Freeman (AUS)

2000 Olympic 400m gold medallist and 1997 and 1999 world 400m champion

Cathy Freeman was always a very graceful runner who I fondly recall winning 400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The way she ran seemed so effortless. I recall that Sydney Olympic final, the crowd roaring and cheering for her. I know she could also run a 48 (second) leg and I’m confident with her strength she could extend that lead.

Third leg: Madeline Manning Mims (USA)

1968 Olympic 800m champion and 1972 Olympic 4x400m silver medallist

She was a very talented and versatile 400m/800m runner who competed across three Olympic Games, and who to this day is still the only US woman to win the Olympic 800m title. I really like her style and even if she couldn’t quite split a 49 (second) leg, she could definitely run a 50.

Fourth leg: Marie-Jose Perec (FRA)

1992 and 1996 Olympic 400m gold medallist and 1991 and 1995 world 400m champion

Standing at almost 6ft, Marie-Jose was very fluent and I like the thought of putting a 200m/400m sprinter on the last leg. She was also such a graceful runner and it would be hard to stop her on that final leg.

 I think with Valerie, Cathy and Marie-Jose all capable of a 48-second split and Madeline a 50, this team could go very fast.

 Steve Landells for the IAAF