By Mitch Phillips
- The US won the 4x400m mixed relay at the world championships for the third time, equalling the championship record at 3:08.80.
- The Netherlands, anchored by Femke Bol, secured the silver medal, while Belgium took bronze, their first global medal in the event.
- Bryce Deadmon emphasized trust among teammates for their success, building an early lead consolidated by Lynna Irby-Jackson and Jenoah McKiver.
TOKYO – The United States convincingly won the 4x400m mixed relay for the third time in the event’s four world championship outings on Sept 13, gaining some measure of revenge on the Netherlands, who beat them in the 2024 Olympics.
The popular event was first run in 2019 when the US won and they dramatically triumphed again in 2023 after managing only bronze on home soil in Eugene in 2022.
Victory was never in doubt on Sept 13, however, as they came home well clear in an equal championship record of three minutes 08.80.
Bryce Deadmon, who has Olympic silver and bronze in the event in his cabinet, gave them an early lead and Lynna Irby-Jackson consolidated it before Jenoah McKiver scorched a 43.91 third lap to leave the pack trailing in the distance. Alexis Holmes had the honour of crossing the line
Femke Bol, who famously fell when metres from the line to hand the U.S. the gold in the last worlds, delivered another outstanding anchor leg to give the Dutch the silver in 3:09.96.
Fast-finishing Belgium took bronze in 3:10.61 – their first global medal in the event.
“With the three guys behind me, I knew I was going to be alright,” said Deadmon, who also has two 4x400m men’s relay golds to his name.
“I told my teammates to trust themselves. They have been running 400s all year and if they did the same, things would work out as they are supposed to.”
REUTERS
