Novlene Williams-Mills anchors Americas to victory in the 4x400m at the IAAF Continental Cup, Marrakech 2014 (© Getty Images)
The Americas quartet boasted four of the six fastest women in the world this year – including the first two finishers in the individual 400m on Saturday, Francena McCorory and Novlene Williams-Mills.
The result appeared to be a foregone conclusion, and thus it proved.
Christine Day opened a commanding lead on the opening leg and her fellow Jamaicans Stephanie Ann McPherson and Williams-Mills finished the job after McCorory had extended the gap on leg two.
The result of the combined Jamaican-US effort was a world-leading time of 3:20.93, smashing the African all-comers’ record.
Europe, anchored by Libania Grenot, came through to snatch second place in a distant 3:24.12 ahead of a spirited Africa quartet, who finished third in 3:25.51.
Asia-Pacific brought up the rear in fourth place, clocking 3:36.89.
Simon Turnbull for the IAAF