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Gamecock Natasha Hastings Wins Gold in 4×400 Relay

Felix won her sixth gold medal last night after anchoring the women’s 4×400-meter relay squad.

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The U.S. team of (University of Tennessee All-American) Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie posted the second-fastest time in history.

Arman Hall, Tony McQuay and Gil Roberts set up Merritt for the victory.

Later, two-time former world champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya rained on Ethiopian Almaz Ayana’s bid for an Olympic distance double, kicking with two laps to run to seal gold in the women’s 5000m.

He won bronze in the 400 earlier this week in Rio.

In what may yet prove to be her final Olympic appearance Allyson Felix led the USA 4x400m relay team home in style to become the most decorated athlete in U.S. track and field history, overcoming their Jamaican rivals easily in the process.

Natasha Hastings, Phyllis Francis, Allyson Felix and Courtney Okolo react after winning gold in the women’s 4×400-meter relay on day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Jamaica’s silver was their fifth straight medal in the event, following silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004, 2008 and 2012 while Britain claimed their first medal since 1992.

Beijing would bring another silver in the 200, and her first gold as part of the 4×400 relay.

Yes, the United States may have relay problems – see, the men’s 4×100, which flamed out again the night before – but this event certainly isn’t one of them. “That’s kind of like, you know, a soldier showing up to a war without his guns”, Gardner said.

Farah dealt with everything the field could throw at him on Saturday, and even took up the pace midway through the race to stamp his authority on the field. Centrowitz jumped to the front with about two laps to go and only got stronger with the finish line in sight. Nicholas Willis of New Zealand captured bronze.

I guess good karma wins a medal, too.

The native Mississippian will be bringing home a trio of colors; bronze, silver and, now, gold.

Lagat said “it’s hard to imagine”. Stars! They’re just like you and me!

The governing body for track and field said Paul Chelimo, who originally finished second in the race, was disqualified for a lane infringement.

Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia won the bronze medal. The U.S. win gives the 30-year-old Felix a fifth career Olympic gold medal.

Semenya won in a South African national record 1:55.28, while Niyonsaba was 1.21 seconds behind. She is now the only one with five.

The IAAF a year ago was forced to drop rules that regulated their testosterone levels.

GOLD FOR BRAZIL MEN: Neymar buried the final penalty kick and host country Brazil won its first-ever Olympic men’s soccer gold medal with a 5-4 shootout following a 1-1 draw with Germany.

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Nazarov, world silver medallist in Beijing past year, heaved a best of 78.68 metres to finish ahead of Belarus’ convicted doping cheat Ivan Tsikhan (77.79m).

US women drop baton in sprint relay