The US women's 4x400m team at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot (© Getty Images)
The USA asserted their dominance from the outset, storming to a world-leading 3:24.83 victory in an event that, quite surprisingly, the USA have won only once in the history of these championships.
Led by relay stalwart Natasha Hastings who – after three faulty starts due to technical issues – composed herself to speed to a 51.95 opener, the US quartet then utilised their individual 400m finalist Joanna Atkins, who registered a 50.85 split to maintain their comfortable winning margin.
Sopot individual 400m champion Francena McCorory sprinted to an impressive 50.36 clocking, and then handed over to Cassandra Tate, who anchored them home with a 51.67 split. Their winning time was a North American indoor record.
Behind the USA, Jamaica took nearly three seconds off their national record set in the heats to clock 3:26.54 and take the silver medal.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the winners two years ago in Istanbul, captured the bronze medal as world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu brought them home in a 3:27.90 season’s best.
Nicola Bamford for the IAAF
