US dominate 4x400m
ByReuters
Published 23/08/2009 at 16:10 GMT
The United States made amends for their unhappy 4x100 metres appearances by retaining both men's and women's world titles in the 4x400 relays on the final day of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
ATHLETICS LeShawn Merritt World Championships Berlin 2009
Image credit: AFP
World and Olympic 400 champion LaShawn Merritt teamed up with rival and silver medallist Jeremy Wariner to breeze to victory in the men's relay with the year's best time of two minutes and 57.86 seconds.
With Angelo Taylor and Kerron Clement also in their formidable line-up, the other teams could only battle for second and third place.
Britain (3:00.53) grabbed the silver medal with a determined run by Martyn Rooney, leaving Australia (3:00.90) in third.
The US women's team also comfortably defended their relay title with Jamaica (3:21.15) and Russia (3:21.64) in second and third.
Debbie Dunn, running first, handed over to 200m world champion Allyson Felix, having already carved out a 10m lead and by the time anchor Sanya Richards took the baton, victory was all but assured.
Richards helped clock the best time of the year, slashing more than five seconds off the previous season best to come home in 3:17.83.
Both US 4x100 relay teams failed to reach the finals after dropping the baton or handing it over outside the box.
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