The U.S. women’s 4×100-meter relay team will get the opportunity to defend the title they won in the London Olympics in a world-record time of 40.82 after they took advantage of their second chance and qualified for the final in 41.77 in a solo run. The result, which turned out to be the fastest of the day, knocks China out of the final.
The team of Morolake Akinosun, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tianna Bartoletta dropped the baton at the second exchange on Thursday morning but Felix was bumped by a Brazilian athlete as she attempted to hand off to Gardner. She however wisely grabbed the baton and delivered it to Gardner so they finished the race and immediately protested the result.
Their appeal was upheld and they were given a chance to re-run a solo race against time. The team must clock 42.70 or faster if they wanted to be in the final. And they made it, running 41.77 in lane 2 on a solo run.
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