“We are putting things together well but we’ll have to change a few things for the final”, said Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown.
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The U.S. team had a dropped baton on the second exchange of the second semifinal, and video and photographic evidence confirmed a Brazilian sprinter impeded Felix.
The US originally missed out on qualifying for the final but was allowed a solo re-run of their heat on Thursday when officials ruled it was obstructed during the race.
This meant that not only would Team USA have another shot at qualifying for the final race later that day, but Brazil would be disqualified.
“She is exhausted but ready”, said Bartoletta’s husband, John.
“Wonderful experience. My first Olympics”.
“It was weird but it was a lot of fun doing it”, Akinosun would say after, adding, “It kind of felt like a glorified practice”.
It was the first gold of the Rio Games for Bowie and Felix, as well.
The 4×100 relay gold medal is staying in the United States.
Not only had they retained their Olympic title – the foursome of Bartoletta, Felix, Bianca Knight and Carrmelita Jeter had won in London four years ago, – but they brought back some golden memories.
For Bartoletta, it was the second gold in Rio, after winning the long jump too.
Ayana looked to be on the way to another dominant victory after surging into a huge lead four laps into the race but the Ethiopian exhausted in the closing stages and was unable to hold off Cheruiyot’s late surge.
The reigning champions appealed against the result of the race. Silver medalist Hellen Obiri of Kenya (14:29.77) and the bronze medalist Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia (14:33.59) were also under the old record.
Ayana had to settle for bronze. The American women won four consecutive gold medals from 1984 to 1996.
When Bolt received the yellow baton from Ashmeade for his final run down the straightaway, he was even, maybe a step behind, Aska Cambridge of Japan and Trayvon Bromell of the United States. Her gold was Greece’s first in athletics since the Athens Games in 2004. “I wish it didn’t happen this way”.
“Very relieved”, Felix told reporters.
Either the American or Jamaican women’s 4×100-meter relay has won gold at every major worldwide championship for the past 12 years, with the exception of the 2008 Olympics. She successfully completed only one vault, at 4.60m, after her husband and coach Rick Suhr reported on Twitter on Friday morning that she had woken up “coughing up blood”.
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For Felix, it was a particularly potent golden moment as she notched her fifth career gold medal to become the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history.
