World Champs Womenâ€s 4×1 — USA–Jamaica Rivalry Refuses To Quit

Three times previously in Worlds history USA quartets had defended 4×1 titles. This edition saw the first three-peat. (KEVIN MORRIS)

FOR THE THIRD Worlds in a row, the United States came out on top in a close battle with Jamaica. Following wins by 0.04 in â€22 and 0.18 in â€23, the Americans prevailed on a rainy evening by 0.04 again. It marked the tenth gold for the U.S. in this event. Lead-off Melissa Jefferson-Wooden matched Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as only the second woman to win the Worlds sprint triple after her earlier golds in the 100 and 200.

The heats set the stage for another expected clash. Jamaica (Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith) took the first section in 41.80, with Spain (42.53) and France (42.71) grabbing the other two automatic qualifying spots.

The U.S. — running Jacious Sears, TeeTee Terry, Kayla White and Shaâ€Carri Richardson — ran slightly faster in the second race, clocking a world-leading 41.60. Germany (41.86) came on strong to pass Great Britain (41.88) just before the line while Canada (42.38 NR) and Poland (42.83) picked up the time qualifiers.

In the final, Jefferson-Wooden replaced Sears on the opening leg for the Americans, joining her three training partners. They lined up in lane 5, just inside of the Jamaicans, who had Fraser-Pryce step in for Williams.

The race went off in a steady rain, with Jefferson-Wooden and Fraser-Pryce handing off simultaneously. The teams ran side-by-side over the next two legs (with 3-time finalist Terry passing to White), and it wasnâ€t until Jamaica had the slightest delay on the final exchange that the U.S. found an opening.

Richardson, who finished 5th in the individual 100 after a challenging season, blasted the first 50 meters of the homestretch to open a lead, then had to hold off the fast-closing Smith for the gold, 41.75–41.79.

“I did what I wanted to do individually,†said Jefferson-Wooden, “and then came back together with my girls, my training partners and we were all able to walk away with a gold medal, so Iâ€m really happy about that.â€

Germany (41.87) grabbed the bronze ahead of Great Britain (42.07), Spain (42.47), France (42.81), Canada (42.82) and Poland (43.27).

For the 38-year-old Fraser-Pryce — who was the first woman to sweep the 100, 200 and 4 x 100 back in 2013 — it was her ninth medal in this event (and astounding 17th overall). “To be able to hand over to our young, upcoming sprint queens is really fantastic,†she said, confirming that she is now retiring. “Today is a full circle moment for me. I was a reserve at my first world championships in Japan in 2007 [in Osaka, where she ran in the heats]. I couldn’t have it any other way. I am grateful for the medals, the stadiums and the crowds where I have competed throughout my career.â€

WOMENâ€S 4 x 100 RESULTS

FINAL (September 21)

1. United States 41.75

(Melissa Jefferson-Wooden 11.38, TeeTee Terry 9.93, Kayla White 10.36, Shaâ€Carri Richardson 10.08);

2. Jamaica 41.79

(Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 11.32, Tia Clayton 10.18, Tina Clayton 10.16, Jonielle Smith 10.13);

3. Germany 41.87

(Sina Mayer ?, Rebekka Haase ?, Sophia Junk 10.27, Gina Lückenkemper 9.85);

4. Great Britain 42.07

(Dina Asher-Smith 11.27, Amy Hunt 9.95, Desiree Henry 10.60, Daryll Neita 10.25);

5. Spain 42.47

(Esperança Cladera 11.52, Jael Bestue 10.01, Paula Sevilla 10.42, Maria Isabel Pérez 10.52);

6. France 42.81

(Marie-Ange Rimlinger 11.68, Sarah Richard Mingas 10.54, Helene Parisot 10.51, Gemima Joseph 10.08);

7. Canada 42.82

(Sade McCreath 11.62, Jacqueline Madogo 10.40, Marie-Éloïse Leclair 10.62, Audrey Leduc 10.18);

… dq[zone]—[8]Poland [43.27]

(Magdalena Niemczyk 11.56, Pia Skrzyszowska 10.34, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya 11.15, Ewa Swoboda).

(lanes: 2. Canada; 3. Poland; 4. Great Britain, 5. United States; 6. Jamaica; 7. Spain; 8. Germany; 9. France)

(reaction times: 0.133 Spain, 0.140 Jamaica & Great Britain, 0.150 Canada, 0.151 Germany, 0.154 United States & Poland, 0.175 France)

HEATS (September 20)

I–1. Jamaica 41.80 (Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Smith); 2. Spain 42.53; 3. France 42.71; 4. Netherlands 43.62 (Isabel Van Den Berg, Britt De Blaauw, Marije van Hunenstijn, Demi Van Den Wildenberg); 5. Chile 44.07 (Macarena Borie, María Ignacia Montt, Isidora Jiménez, Anaís Hernández); 6. Italy 49.41 (Vittoria Fontana, Gloria Hooper, Dalia Kaddari, Alessia Pavese);… dq[zone]—[3]Belgium [43.30];… dnf—Australia.

II–1. United States 41.60 (WL, AL)

(Jacious Sears 11.25, Terry 9.86, White 10.35, Richardson 10.14);

2. Germany 41.86; 3. Great Britain 41.88 (Asher-Smith, Success Eduan, Desiree Henry, Daryll Neita); 4. Canada 42.38 NR; 5. Poland 42.83; 6. China 42.94 (Xiaojing Liang, Yuting Li, Junying Zhu, Yujie Chen); 7. Côte dâ€Ivoire 44.64 (Dinedye Denis, Maboundou Koné, Jessika Gbai, Lou Chantal Djehi);… dnf—Switzerland.

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