The United States duly earned a sixth win from the past nine editions of the women’s 4x400m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26.

But, after seeing their men’s team win the preceding 4x400m final, the US quartet of Bailey Lear, Rosey Effiong, Paris Peoples and Shamier Little had to weather strong pressure from their Dutch rivals before bringing the baton home in 3:25.81 in the last event of these championships.

Home hopes rose as Poland’s 33-year-old last leg runner Justyna Swiety-Ersetic held third place in the final straight before being passed a couple of metres from the finish by Spain’s Blanca Hervas.

The Netherlands’ individual bronze medallist and European indoor champion Lieke Klaver led off with the fastest opening split, 51.16, but a second leg split of 50.83 brought the US team back into it.

Myrte Van Der Schoot, Nina Franke and Eveline Saalberg brought the baton home for silver in 3:26.00.

Just 0.04 behind was a Spanish quartet comprising Paula Sevilla, Ana Prieto, Rocio Arroya and Blanca Hervas which was rewarded with bronze – a first world indoor medal for them in this event.

That frustrated a huge effort from the home team, who had led off with individual silver medallist Natalia Bukowiecka, rested in the heats, clocked the team’s fastest split of 51.25. She passed on to Anna Gryc and Anastasia Kus before mixed 4x400m bronze medallist Swiety-Ersetic brought the team home fourth in 3:26.17.

Great Britain, fielding 60m finalist Dina Asher-Smith and newly installed 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson alongside Tess McHugh and Louisa Stoney, placed fifth in 3:28.09. Hodgkinson, racing less than an hour after her 1:55.30 800m triumph, clocked the fastest split of the race – 50.10. Asher-Smith’s 51.29 was also one of the quickest of the day.

Little commented: “We came into the final knowing what we had to do. There is great team spirit and a sense of camaraderie between us. We continue the legacy of US relay success."

Klaver added: “It was a nice evening for the Dutch team as well. Nadine (Visser) won silver, Sofie (Dokter) won gold, so we couldn't leave without a medal. During the warm-up, we saw that Nadine and Sofie won medals and that gave us goosebumps and energy to run even better.”

Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics

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