American women dominate 4x400-meter relay

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

Domination. That's the word to best describe Team USA's final efforts Sunday at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in London, as the American women's 4x400-meter relay team simply dominated the rest of the world, earning gold with a nearly six-second victory. Add in the men's 4x400 relay silver medal and Team USA earned a record 30 medals overall, including 10 gold. What a World Championships!

The quartet of Quanera Hayes, Allyson Felix, Shakima Wimbley and Phyllis Francis grabbed the lead from the opening leg and built their lead lap after lap, until it was all too clear that no one was going catch anchor and reigning world 400 champion Francis, as she strode down the homestretch, seemingly coasting to a big finish. 

The men's 4x400 relay squad tried valiantly, leading until the final 50 meters of the race, but anchor Fred Kerley couldn't hold off veteran Lalonde Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago, who snatched gold and upset the Americans, .

In London, from start to finish, Team USA once again showed they are the world's premier track and field team. Earning 10 medals in the field events to set a Team USA record, while the Americans seemed strong across sprints, hurdles, distances and relays on the track. 

Wilson earns 800 bronze 

It seemed a long time coming, but Ajee' Wilson finally earned her first IAAF World Championship medal. Wilson had earned silver indoors, as well as two IAAF World Relays medals, but had never claimed a medal at the IAAF World Championships. Wilson ran up front from the gun, hanging on to the shoulder of race leader Francine Niyonsaba.

With the final drive to the finish, eventual champion Caster Semenya would pass both runners on her way to another gold medal performance, while Niyonsaba hung on for silver and Wilson for bronze. 

Wilson's 1:56.65 is the second-fastest time of her career, only bettered by her 1:55.61 performance earlier this season in Monaco. This has been a year to remember for Wilson, as she won yet another U.S. title and run sub-1:59 four times.

Team USA loads up on 30 medals in London

Here is the final list of American medalists at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships:

Total - 30  |  Gold - 10  |  Silver - 11  |  Bronze - 9

Gold - Tori Bowie (women's 100-meter dash)
Gold - Kori Carter (women's 400-meter hurdles)
Gold - Emma Coburn (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase)
Gold - Phyllis Francis (women's 400 meters)
Gold - Justin Gatlin (men's 100-meter dash)
Gold - Sam Kendricks (men's pole vault)
Gold - Brittney Reese (women's long jump)
Gold - Christian Taylor (men's triple jump)
Gold - Women's 4x100-meter relay
Gold - Women's 4x400-meter relay

Silver - Will Claye (men's triple jump)
Silver - Christian Coleman (men's 100-meter dash)
Silver - Courtney Frerichs (women's 3,000-meter steeplechase)
Silver - Dawn Harper-Nelson (women's 100-meter hurdles)
Silver - Joe Kovacs (men's shot put)
Silver - Jarrion Lawson (men's long jump)
Silver - Sandi Morris (women's pole vault)
Silver - Dalilah Muhammad (women's 400-meter hurdles)
Silver - Jenny Simpson (women's 1,500 meters)
Silver - Men's 4x100-meter relay
Silver - Men's 4x400-meter relay

Bronze - Tianna Bartoletta (women's long jump)
Bronze - Michelle Carter (women's shot put)
Bronze - Paul Chelimo (men's 5,000 meters)
Bronze - Kerron Clement (men's 400-meter hurdles)
Bronze - Amy Cragg (women's marathon)
Bronze - Allyson Felix (women's 400 meters)
Bronze - Mason Finley (men's discus)
Bronze - Evan Jager (men's 3,000-meter steeplechase)
Bronze - Ajee' Wilson (women's 800 meters)