U.S. Women 4x1 Botches Exchange, Must Rerun for Spot in the Final
Allyson Felix and English Gardner botched the second exchange and dropped the baton. Felix said she felt contact from an athlete on the Brazil team in the lane next to her. The U.S. team filed a protest and Brazil was disqualified.
The U.S. must run faster than 42.70 to advance to the finals. Canada and China both recorded 42.70 in the prelims, and it is unclear which team would get bounced should the U.S. run faster.
A dropped baton isn't out of the ordinary for Team USA. Charts don't lie:
| Year | Meet | Event | Team | What happened | Who was involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympics (Rio) | W 4x100m | USA | Botched exchange | Allyson Felix to English Gardner |
| 2015 | World Championships (Beijing) | M 4x100m | USA | DQ in final (3rd exchange out of zone) | Tyson Gay to Mike Rodgers |
| 2015 | World Relays | W 4x200m | USA | DNF | Jeneba Tarmoh to Allyson Felix exchange |
| 2015 | World Relays | M 4x200m | USA | DQ in final (2nd to 3rd exchange out of zone) | Isiah Young to Curtis Mitchell, dropped baton |
| 2014 | World Relays | W 4x1500m | USA | 2nd leg falls down after collision with AUS at exchange | Katie Mackey |
| 2014 | World Relays | M 4x100m | USA | DQ in heats (2nd to 3rd exchange out of zone) | Trell Kimmons to Rakieem Salaam |
| 2014 | World Relays | M 4x200m | USA | DQ in final (2nd to 3rd exchange out of zone) | Curtis Mitchell to Ameer Webb |
| 2013 | World Championships (Moscow) | M 4x100m | USA | Silver medal (3rd exchange outside lane, no DQ) | Mookie Salaam to Justin Gatlin |
| 2011 | World Championships (Daegu) | M 4x100m | USA | DNF | Darvis "Doc" Patton crash with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (GBR) |
| 2009 | World Championships (Berlin) | W 4x100m | USA | DNF in heats | Alexandria Anderson to Muna Lee (Lee injury) |
| 2009 | World Championships (Berlin) | M 4x100m | USA | DQ in rounds | Darvis "Doc" Patton to Shawn Crawford |
| 2008 | Olympics (Beijing) | M 4x100m | USA | DNF | Darvis "Doc" Patton to Tyson Gay |
| 2008 | Olympics (Beijing) | W 4x100m | USA | DQ in heats | Torri Edwards to Lauryn Williams |
| 2005 | World Championships (Helsinki) | M 4x100m | USA | DNF in rounds | First exchange (Mardy Scales to Leonard Scott) |
| 2004 | Olympics (Athens) | W 4x100m | USA | DQ | Marion Jones to Lauryn Williams: pass out of zone |
| 2001 | World Championships (Edmonton) | M 4x100m | USA | Retroactive DQ (Doping) | Tim Montgomery |
| 2001 | World Championships (Edmonton) | W 4x100m | USA | Retroactive DQ (Doping) | Marion Jones |
The U.S. squad of Mike Rodgers, Christian Coleman, Tyson Gay and Jarrion Lawson won their preliminary heat in 37.65, the fastest time of the morning.
Though a country can run an entirely different squad in the final, we know that our top runners, Trayvon Bromell and Justin Gatlin, are banged up.
Women
Auto Qualifiers:
41.79 Jamaica
41.93 Great Britain
42.18 Germany
42.49 Ukraine
42.55 Nigeria
43.62 Trinidad and Tobago
Time Qualifiers:
42.70 Canada
42.70 China
Men
Auto Qualifiers:
37.65 USA (Mike Rodgers, Christian Coleman, Tyson Gay, Jarrion Lawson)
37.68 Japan
37.82 China
37.89 Canada
37.94 Jamaica
37.96 Trinidad and Tobago
Time Qualifiers:
38.06 Great Britain
38.19 Brazil
The finals of the 4x100m relay will take place Friday, August 19 at 8:15PM, 8:35PM CST.
Kerron Clement Wins 400m Hurdle Gold
Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Article: Meg Bellino
Article: Meg Bellino
Clement, 30, stormed out of the blocks and lead wire-to-wire to capture his first Olympic gold medal in 47.73, eight years after his earned silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The U.S. trials champion held off a late charging Boniface Tumuti of Kenya (47.78) and Yasmani Copello of Turkey (47.92), who earned silver and bronze, respectively.
Clement has had a storied career that stems back to 2004 when he was crowned the World Junior champion at 18 years old. He won multiple NCAA titles at the University of Florida and holds the World record for the indoor 400m with his 44.57 ran at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships.
After turning pro, Clement won back-to-back world championship titles in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay in 2007 and 2009. He was the silver medalist in 2008 when the U.S. completed the 1-2-3 sweep with Angelo Taylor taking gold and Bershawn Jackson bronze.
Ashton Eaton congratulates Kerron Clement after winning the 400m hurdles. Photo: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports