The team was over 4,400 miles away. But the spectators on the Brian Lara Promenade screamed, shouted, clapped and urged on the Trinidad and Tobago men's 4x400 metres relay team like they were running within touching distance.

And when Deon Lendore crossed the finish line yesterday at the Olympic Stadium in London, England it was pandemonium on the Promenade.

Strangers hugged, women screamed, children shouted and men high-fived.

In that moment everyone on the Promenade came together as one.

The Trinidad and Tobago men's 4x400 metres relay team of Lendore, Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon and Ade Alleyne-Forte captured bronze with a time of two minutes, 59.40 seconds yesterday.

It was a new national record.

But more importantly the feat meant a second medal for Trinidad and Tobago at the London Olympic games.

It was also Gordon's second bronze medal.

"We ran a good race and were able to get the bronze medal. It is a big achievement, you know the whole of Trinidad and Tobago happy. We give thanks for the bronze," 52-year-old Christopher Peru said yesterday.

Peru was among the scores of spectators who had gathered on the Promenade yesterday to watch the relay final on the TV6 big screen outside Express House.

The men's 4x400 metres final started around 4.20 p.m. yesterday.

Jacob Ajodha, 35, said he spent the starting moments of the 4x400 metres race saying a silent prayer.

Ajodha's prayer was for the men's team to complete the race without incident.

"When they started to call out the teams and they focussed on Lalonde (Gordon), I took time to ask God to help them finish," Ajodha said.

Ajodha's anxieties came on the heels of the difficulties experienced by the women's 4x100 metres final less than an hour before the men's 4x400 metres final.

The Trinidad and Tobago women's 4x100 metres relay team of Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Kai Selvon and Semoy Hackett did not finish their race.

The first baton exchange between Ahye and Baptiste was never completed.

Spectators gathered on the Promenade during the women's 4x100 metres final were left confused but this was turned to joy less than an hour after.

"I am very proud of Trinidad and Tobago for placing third in the men's 4x400. I'm a bit disappointed with the female's (4x100 relay team) but at the end of the day God knows best," Leanna Joyeau said yesterday.

Joyeau is a facilitator at the Kirton's Martial Arts Academy.

Pupils of the Kirton's Martial Arts Academy have watched several of the Olympic final races on the TV6 big screen outside the Express House, but had never seen any medal performances.

Their luck however changed yesterday.

"Finally these children have been able to experience the excitement of observing us gaining a medal, whether it be gold, silver or bronze," Joyeau said.

Cindy Daniel said she was proud of the success of the entire Trinidad and Tobago Olympic team.

"On paper we have only won two bronze medals this Olympics but in reality this is the best Olympic team our country has ever had. We have had great performances by all of our athletes. They should all walk with their heads up and the country should recognise them and use their achievements as a foundation to build on. Well done, Trinidad and Tobago...you have made us all proud," Daniel said.