Champion Allison anchors USA to men's 4x400m victory in Oregon (© AFP / Getty Images)
When Champion Allison grabbed the baton for the anchor leg of the men’s 4x400m final, he took off on what was essentially a victory lap.
Elija Godwin, Michael Norman and Bryce Deadmon had combined to give the US team such a huge lead that Allison ran the final 400m virtually alone on Sunday (24) to secure yet another gold for the home country at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.
With a lead of about 20m and the Hayward Field crowd roaring him on, Allison crossed the finish line in a world-leading 2:56.17 to give the US men their eighth 4x400m relay title in the last nine championships – and 11th out of 18.
“I was hungry and blessed to bring it home for my team,” Allison said.
Jamaica took silver in 2:58.58 and Belgium grabbed bronze in 2:58.72. Japan finished fourth in an Asian record 2:59.51.
With such an impressive depth of one-lap runners, the US started as huge favourites and the result was never in doubt. The handoffs were clean and each of the four US runners did their part to extend the country’s dominance in the event.
The win came in the last men’s track event on the final day of the championships, the first held on US soil. The US women followed with gold in the 4x400m relay.
Godwin led off with a 44.28 split, new 400m champion Norman followed with a 43.68 leg to build a sizeable lead, Deadmon ran 43.82 on the third leg and Allison closed it out in 44.43.
There was no repeat of the baton exchange problems that have so often bedevilled US relay teams. A day earlier, the US men’s 4x100m team settled for silver behind Canada after a sloppy final handoff.
Deadmon said the crowd noise was “crazy”.
“It was definitely a help to have a home crowd here,” he said. “All our transitions went smooth. Pace was good, time was good, I mean it felt like we came out to win.”
“I definitely felt the energy today,” Norman said. “It was a great experience and my No.1 in terms of the interaction with the fans.”
The victory meant a second gold medal from the championships for Norman, who finally lived up to his reputation as one of the best quarter-milers of his generation to win his first global 400m title on Friday night.
“It has been a great championships in overall for the team USA,” Norman said. “Especially on the men's side after some disappointing championships, it was like a turn around. I think there is a huge potential of the whole team for growth. The time is coming. Maybe the next four, five or six years, it is going to be an amazing time for the USA team.”
Jamaica ended up with its eighth silver medal in the event, to go with three bronze. The Jamaicans are still without a gold in the relay.
“I think it was OK today under the given circumstances,” third-leg runner Jevaughn Powell said. “It is always a tough task running with the USA team, but we are trying to challenge them as much as possible. And I think we did that.”
It was Belgium’s second 4x400m bronze in a row at the World Championships.
“It was a great race at a great stadium. To get another medal, that is really great for our country,” anchor leg runner Kevin Borlee said. “We were very well prepared and tried to stay focused to keep the rhythm. For such a small country, we keep on going for so many years. So it is awesome.”
Steve Wilson for World Athletics
| MEN'S 4x400m MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | United States 🇺🇸 | 2:56.17 WL |
| 🥈 | Jamaica 🇯🇲 | 2:58.58 SB |
| 🥉 | Belgium 🇩🇪 | 2:58.72 SB |
| Full results | ||
