US ends wait for men’s 4x100 relay world gold
The United States ended a 12-year wait for a gold medal in the men’s 4x100-meter relay at the world track and field championships in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, while the American women had to settle for bronze behind Jamaica.
The all-star U.S. men’s squad started with individual 100-meter world champion Christian Coleman and ended with 200 champ Noah Lyles, with Justin Gatlin and Michael Rodgers in between.
Coleman put the U.S. in the lead with on the first leg and victory didn’t seem in doubt after that despite a slow final baton handover.
Gatlin said he was thankful to his teammates after winning his first major-championship relay gold, 15 years after his Olympic debut. The time of 37.10 seconds was the third fastest in history, beaten only by the Jamaican teams of 2011 featuring Usain Bolt.
“We broke the curse. We broke the curse,” Lyles yelled into the microphone during his on-track interview. “U-S-A. We’re taking all the golds! All of them.”
Britain, the champion in 2017, took silver ahead of Japan.
Jamaica won the women’s race in 41.44 seconds as Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce earned her ninth career world championship gold medal. That’s the second highest of any woman in history except Allyson Felix.
Britain was second as Dina Asher-Smith won her third medal of the championships after individual 200-meter gold and 100-meter silver, and her third career world medal in the 4x100. The U.S. women’s team couldn’t defend its 2017 title as it took the bronze.
More bad news for the U.S: A false start by Olympic champion Brianna McNeal in the 100-meter hurdle heats, and Brittney Reese’s surprisingly early exit from the long jump, meaning she won’t be in the final to defend her title Sunday.
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