After dropping the baton at the 4×100-meter relay’s first-round heat at the Rio Olympic Games on Thursday, the United States of America women’s track and field team will race again later in the evening after winning an appeal through the International Association of Athletics Federation. However, during the qualifying heats this morning, their hopes seemed lost after a botched hand-off between Allyson Felix and English Gardner.
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However, USA Track and Field appealed after it emerged a Brazilian runner had bumped Felix as she approached for the changeover. Thrown off her form, Felix tried a last-ditch toss to get English the baton, which clanged to the track.
Felix wisely instructed Gardner to pick up the baton to complete the race, making the protest possible.
After the race, the USA filed a protest.
But the Americans can’t simply be advanced to the final on the eight-lane Rio track, so there will be a surreal scenario on Thursday night – the USA’s 4×100 relay running alone in a time trial at 7 p.m.in Rio (6 ET).
Even on exhausted legs, 42.70 should be no problem for the USA relay runners, especially with nobody jostling them from the side. It hit the ground as Gardner and Felix crashed into each other.
After the heat, Team USA protested that Brazilian sprinter Kauiza Venancio interfered with Felix and caused the fumbled exchange. In all likelihood, the appeal will be successful.
Upset, true, but experienced enough to retain her focus amid the drama.
The Jamaicans needed Fraser-Pryce’s blistering finish to hold off Britain, who were second fastest on the timesheets in 41.93 ahead of Germany, who won the second heat in 42.18 once the Americans had effectively eliminated themselves.
“We’re just gonna regroup, get ourselves together and go out and be able to compete in the final”, a determined Gardner told ESPN.
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“She is exhausted but ready”, said Bartoletta’s husband, John.
