The United States produced an utterly dominant performance to take gold in the women’s 4x400m at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Sunday (21), setting a championship record of 3:16.61 on the rain-soaked track at the Japan National Stadium.

Silver went to Jamaica with 3:19.25, while the Netherlands took bronze with 3:20.18.

Such was the dominance of the US display, all four of their team members recorded the quickest splits on their respective legs, with Isabella Whittaker leading them off in 50.12, handing over to Lynna Irby-Jackson, who extended their advantage to more than 10 metres by halfway after a blazing 48.71-second leg.

Aaliyah Butler built that lead more with a 49.96-second leg and when she handed over to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the individual 400m champion was able to enjoy a virtual lap of honour on her anchor leg, though she did much more than that, clocking a blazing 47.82 split to carry them to victory in fine style.

Their time took one tenth of a second off the championship record the US had run at the 1993 edition in Stuttgart and is the fifth quickest time in history for the women’s 4x400m. Since winning gold in the event for the first time in 1993, the US has now won 11 of the past 17 titles.

It offered a sense of redemption after they faced disqualification in Budapest two years ago for passing the baton outside the takeover zone, and added to their Olympic title in Paris last year.

“When you have great teammates as I have, it's amazing,” said McLaughlin-Levrone. “My last lap felt like a victory lap for us. I just wanted to finish strong because you never know who is behind, chasing you. It was just an incredible race.”

Irby-Jackson was also pleased with gold and her 48.71-second leg: “I had a great split. I wasn't sure how fast I was running but I knew I was ready to run fast. To just be able to bring the gold medal home, being the part of the legacy of the USA's women's 4x400m relay is incredible.”

Jamaica turned in a hugely impressive showing in second, with their opening trio of Dejanea Oakley, Stacey Ann Williams and Andrenette Knight building a 10-metre lead over the Netherlands in the race for silver, and anchor runner Nickisha Pryce made no mistake from there, producing a brilliant final leg of 48.50 to keep the Dutch at bay.

“We completed an amazing race,” said Williams. “It was not easy to come out on the final knowing that USA and the Netherlands have Sydney and Femke on their last legs. But we came up with silver because we trusted each other on every single leg.”

The Netherlands surrendered their world title but their quartet of Eveline Saalberg, Lieke Klaver, Lisanne De Witte and Femke Bol seemed delighted with bronze, with Klaver’s 49.08 the quickest of their splits just ahead of Bol’s 49.10.

“We worked hard to be able to do this and we have a great team around us to help us achieve our goals,” said Bol, who leaves Tokyo with a full medal collection, having won 400m hurdles gold, mixed 4x400m silver and women’s 4x400m bronze. “I'm happy with that,” she said.

Belgium came home fourth in 3:22.15, with Poland fifth in 3:22.91 and Norway sixth in a national record of 3:23.71 – Henriette Jaeger splitting 49.53 on anchor.

Cathal Dennehy for World Athletics