30 September 2000The United States won the men's Olympic 4x400 relay by an impressive 25 metres in the next to last event of the 2000 athletics program in Stadium Australia. The U.S. won in 2 minutes 56.35 seconds, the seventh fastest performance of all time - all the six faster times also being run by U.S. national teams. Second was Nigeria, whose 2:58.68 set an African record, with Jamaica a close third in 2:58.78, and Bahamas fourth in 2:59.23.
The United States team ran with Alvin Harrison leading off in 44.3 seconds, followed Antonio Pettigrew in 44.2, Calvin Harrison in 43.6 and anchor Michael Johnson in 44.3. Alvin Harrison brought established a lead halfway through the first lap and the U.S were never headed, with Pettigrew, Calvin Harrison and Johnson each extending the lead.
Although the 33-year-old Johnson is committed to competing in next year's Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, people close to him are saying that this Olympic Games may be his last effort at the top of the world scene.
If it is, he leaves the stage with five Olympic gold medals, nine IAAF World Championships gold medals, and world records at 200 metres (twice), 300 metres, 400 metres and memberships on three 4x400 world record teams.
