US women team take top honour

The United States women’s 4x100 metres relay team laid to rest one of the longest-standing and most controversial world records as they took the Olympic title on Friday. The American quartet, anchored with a stunning final leg by Carmelita Jeter, timed 40.82sec to slice more than half a second off the 27-year-old record of 41.37sec set by the former East Germany in 1985. The old mark was one of the handful of records that had fallen under suspicion after the extent of state-sponsored doping in the Communist country emerged following the fall of the Berlin Wall four years after it was set. After the women’s success in the Olympic Stadium, the United States’ evening ended in disappointing fashion as the Bahamas inflicted a shock defeat in the men’s 4x400 metres relay. It was the first time an American team contesting an Olympic 4x400m relay final had been beaten since the 1972 Munich Games. The victory was made sweeter for the Bahamians because it was a first Olympic athletics gold medal for their men. The American women — who ended a 16 year Olympic gold drought — may have relegated their bitter Jamaican rivals into second. With Usain Bolt rested, they sauntered through their heat to set up what could be another historic night for the double sprint champion who is eyeing a repeat of his haul of three golds from Beijing. Jeter, who has arrived on the top stage late in life under the aegis of legendary coach John Smith, completed a full house of medals from these Games having taken silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m. The American men’s 4x400 relay team had been decimated by injuries, not least to world champion LaShawn Merritt. The 33-year-old Angelo Taylor had to be rolled out for the final leg as the first choice, Manteo Mitchell, broke his leg running the first leg in Thursday’s heat. The relay also saw the end of double amputee Oscar Pistorius’s historic Olympic campaign as South Africa trailed in last with the ‘Blade Runner’ taking the baton for the final lap. From:Gulftoday