USA dominates in first mixed 4×400 relay, Allyson Felix breaks Usain Bolt’s record | NBC Sports
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- September 29, 2019
- 10:28 pm
The entire U.S. mixed 4×400 relay team made history, but Allyson Felix made history of her own, breaking Usain Bolt’s record for most world titles.
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How did Allyson Felix contribute to the American team’s success in the mixed 4x400m relay?
The United States of America (USA) once again showed why they are the world’s top track and field nation, dominating in the first mixed 4×400 relay at the World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar on Sunday evening. The event, added to the world championships for the first time, saw two men and two women from each team running different legs of the relay, which made for a fascinating spectacle. And, in keeping with their dominance on this stage, the American team, anchored by Allyson Felix, smashed their own world record to take gold.
Felix, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, produced an impressive finish to overhaul the German team, which had led for much of the race before being passed on the final leg. The Americans finished in three minutes, 9.34 seconds, breaking their previous world record set in July, while Germany took silver and Jamaica claiming bronze.
The USA has a rich heritage in relay races, in which four runners pass a baton over a set distance. They have won 103 Olympic and World Championship medals in various relay events, however, this year’s win was the very first time a mixed 4x400m relay was included at a major global championships.
Felix’s success, in particular, was special. She broke a record previously held by Usain Bolt as the most decorated athlete in the history of the world championships with her 12th gold medal.
“It is very special,” said Felix after the race. “I was just so honored to be part of such a great team, they did such a fantastic job. We knew it would be tough, but we just kept fighting.”
The result was a deserved reward for a strong team effort by the Americans, which included Wilbert London III, Courtney Okolo, and Michael Cherry. Each ran a leg of the race with poise and balance and good passing of the baton. Felix was the star, however, with her electrifying finish.
The addition of the mixed 4x400m relay adds a new dimension to the world championships and is seen as part of efforts to make athletics more gender-equal. And, on this evidence, it has certainly proven to be a success, with the event likely to feature in future Championships.
In summary, the USA deserving of their world-beating reputation, has once again dominated the track and field in Doha, Qatar. Felix, the most successful athlete in the history of the world championships and now sharing the Guinness record with Usaian Bolt, led her team in capturing gold in the very first mixed 4x400m relay, delighting a global audience and setting a new world record. Athletics collectors cannot but applaud the thrilling competition with its new dimension of gender equity. Undoubtedly, the race was a significant moment in the evolution of this world-beating international sport.
