USA sprint to women´s relay gold, Nigeria finish 8th
United States put their semi-final troubles behind them to claim back-to-back women’s 4×100 metre relay gold in a time of 41.01 seconds at Rio 2016.
The defending champions needed a re-run of their semi-final after dropping the baton, having been impeded by Brazil on the second changeover.
Having secured their place in the final, the quartet of Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie put in a stunning performance to claim gold.
Gardner sparked their quest into life on the third leg before handing over to Bowie, the 25-year-old stretching away to finish in the second fastest time in women’s relay history.
With @allysonfelix‘s 5th Gold, she’s won the MOST #GOLD of any female track star in history!pic.twitter.com/8uJ0OHvjN8
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 20, 2016
Individual sprint queen Elaine Thompson had to settle for silver as Jamaica – champions in 2004 – struggled to keep pace with the Americans, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bringing them home in 41.36secs.
Great Britain’s squad completed the top three in a new national record of 41.77secs, Daryll Neita holding off the challenge of Germany on the final leg, Nigeria finished 8th.
