Jamaica Breaks 4x100 World Record!!! 36.85!!



USA and Jamaica neck and neck heading into the anchor legs of Bolt and Bailey

It was a great way to end the track events tonight as Jamaica smashed their own world record in the 4x100m relay with a blazing 36.85!! Gold and Silver were all between the United States and Jamaica as the excellent third legs of Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay handed off to Usain Bolt and Ryan Bailey at almost the exact same time. It would be Bolt to emerge with the surge ahead of Bailey for gold in a new world record. The United States relay team followed close behind in a new American record of 37.04, a time that would have tied the old world record! Bronze was heart-breaking for the Canadian team who thought that they won bronze until they learned that they were disqualified for overstepping the line on the final turn. Bronze was snatched from the team after the results were posted. It was later awarded to Trinidad and Tobago. 

Results:


Bahamas out kicks Angelo Taylor in last 50 meters! Reigning Champions USA Get Silver


The men's 4x400 relay final was a nail-biter as the reigning champions USA battled hard for a second gold with the Bahamas. It was back and forth between the two teams almost the entire race. The Bahamas led the first two legs until Tony McQuay of the United States gave the Americans the lead in the 3rd leg. McQuay handed off to Angelo Taylor, a member of the 2008 Olympic team. Taylor held the lead until the final homestretch when Ramon Miller of the Bahamas tracked him down and out-kicked the gold medalist in the final 50 meters, splitting a 43.8 last leg. This was the first Olympic gold medal for the men of the Bahamas. 

Final Results:

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Men's 4x100 Round 1 Live Updates: 

Heat 1 - Heat 1 was owned by the Jamaicans who finished the relay with the anchor 10 meters ahead of the rest of the field. The relay team ended up finishing in 37.39, a season's best for the Jamaicans. That time puts the team dangerously close to the Olympic record of 37.10, and it's only the first round of heats! They were followed by a close 2nd and 3rd by Canada (38.05) and the Netherlands (38.29), a new national record. Unfortunately for Great Britain, the last exchange was out of the exchange zone, which disqualifies them from the final. 

Heat 2 - The United States had a big opening run as the reigning Olympic Champions ran a new national record of 37.38 to win heat 2!  Not a bad way to go into the final! Japan followed the Americans with the 2nd place time of 38.08.  

Semi-final Results:

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U.S. 4x4 qualifies with 2:58; Jamaica, South Africa out

The United States men's 4x400 team impressed on Thursday morning with a 2:58.87 qualifying time to match Bahamas as the fastest qualifier heading into final. Manteo Mitchell led off for the American squad but it was second leg Josh Mance who got the team from well back in the pack to handing off in second place. Tony McQuay then held that position for anchor Bryshon Nellum to tie the Bahamas as winner of heat two.

In a huge shocked from heat one, South Africa pulled out on the second leg, meaning "The Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius will not be in contention for an Olympic medal in the final. The hope for Usain Bolt to run the 4x4 also went down the drain as Jamaica pulled up on the third leg of the second section.

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last updated: July 19th at 3:10pm CT

Men's Relays Quick Hits
(4x100m, followed by 4x400m)
2012 London Olympic Games



4x100 Meter Relay Schedule:
Day 8, Aug 10th- Heats (2:40pm CT)
Day 9, Aug 11th - Final (3:00pm CT) 

4x100 Meter Relay Records:
World Record - 37.04 - Jamaica 9/4/2011
Olympic Record - 37.10 - Jamaica 8/22/2008
American Record -  37.40 - U.S.A. 8/21/1993 

The Favorites (4x100 Meter Relay):
1. Jamaica - This island nation is teeming with speedy fellas and is all but a lock to defend its gold
2. U.S.A. - ...If Gay and company can keep the baton from hitting the ground
3. Trinidad & Tobago - The defending silver medalists should be on the podium, assuming they don't drop the baton, as they did at their national championships 

The Americans (4x100m Relay):
-Justin Gatlin
-Tyson Gay
-Ryan Bailey
-Michael Rodgers 




4x400 Meter Relay Schedule:
Day 7, Aug 9th- Heats (5:35pm CT)
Day 8, Aug 10th - Final (3:20pm CT)

4x400 Meter Relay Records:
World Record - 2:54.29 - U.S.A. 8/22/1993
Olympic Record - 2:55.39 - U.S.A. 8/23/2008
American Record -  2:54.29 - U.S.A. 8/22/1993 

The Favorites (4x400 Meter Relay):
1. U.S.A. - Unless something goes horribly awry, there will be four gold medals draped on four American necks and a car in every garage.

The Americans (4x400m Relay):
-LaShawn Merritt
-Tony McQuay
-Bryshon Nellum
-Josh Mance 

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