Witnessing an extraordinary feat, the United States broke the world record in the mixed 4x400m relay heats during the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Comprising Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown, the team clocked in at 3 minutes and 07.41 seconds, shattering their previous best of 3:08.80 achieved when they clinched the world gold in Budapest last year.
Reflecting on the remarkable performance, Norwood stated, “We aimed at flawless baton exchanges to set a benchmark for Team USA with this world record.”
Lauding the team effort, Little remarked, “We boast a remarkable group of talented athletes.”
“I am filled with immense excitement for our record-breaking achievement, especially considering this was just the preliminary round, indicating there is more room for improvement,” added Deadmon.
Sharing his experience at the crowded Stade de France, Deadmon mentioned, “The ambiance here is entirely different from Tokyo in 2021, primarily due to the presence of cheering fans.”
“When I was sprinting around the curve, I couldn’t help but notice the thunderous noise in the stadium. It’s an incredible experience, and I eagerly anticipate what the remaining Games have in store,” Deadmon expressed.
Noteworthy performances also came from France (3:10.60), Belgium (3:10.74), and Jamaica (3:11.06) in the heat won by the US, securing the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.
Post their national record victory in the second heat at 3:10.61, Britain outperformed the Netherlands and Italy.
Despite the absence of Femke Bol, the 400m hurdles specialist, in the Dutch lineup, who is eyeing a potential triple-gold feat being a part of both the mixed relay and women’s 4x400m relay squads.
Securing their spots as the fastest finishers outside the top three in each heat, Jamaica and Poland also advanced to the next round.
The inclusion of mixed relay in the Olympic events was made during the COVID-delayed Tokyo Games.
Poland clinched the gold in Tokyo, followed by the Dominican Republic and the US, respectively.
The final showdown is set for 1855 GMT on Saturday.
AFP