Jamaica ended the 29th Olympiad yestarday with a record, 11 medals, as Shericka Williams, Shereefa Lloyd, Rosemarie Whyte and Novelene Williams ran 3:20.45 seconds to win bronze in the women's 4x400 metre relay.

The United States ended their Olympics on a high as their team, anchored by Jamaican-born Sanya Richards, posted 3:18.54 to take gold and relegate Russia into second.

Shericka Williams, the individual 400m silver medallist was content with the medal.  In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, she said:  "USA and Russia came a bit stronger than us, so we can't complain.  We did our season best, which is good for the team, so we cannot complain."

Meanwhile, Jamaica's men's team of Michael Blackwood, Ricardo Chambers, Sanjay Ayre and Lansford Spence finished last in 3:01.45.  During the 90's, this event was almost always a sure bet for a medal for the Jamaican men, with Gregory Haughton, Michael McDonald and Davian Clarke on the team.  However, this is the second successive time that they have failed to medal in the event.  The race was won by the United States in an Olympic record 2:55.39 ahead of the Bahamas and Russia.

Despite, the failure of the men's 4x400 team, there was still emmence joy in the camp.  The six gold, three silver and two bronze medals won saw Jamaica finish third in the athletics medal table behind the United States, who won seven gold, nine silver and seven bronze.

Several members of the team, though not winning medals, achieved personal milestones.  Long jumper Chelsea Hammond jumped to a personal best of 6.79 seconds for fourth although she only qualified for the Olympics by virtue of a 'B' standard jump.  Michael Frater, 100m finallist, broke the sub-10 barrier for the first time in the final running 9.97 seconds for sixth.

President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Mike Fennell, paid homage to athletes of the past who have inspired the current crop no reaping golden success.

"We’re the leading athletic country in the world," he said, adding that it was a result of "pure, raw talent that has been properly nurtured. We’re reaping the rewards of all that hard work.