THE DREAM TEAM of Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes came together to win 4×4 gold and destroy a 34-year-old American Record in the final track race of the Games, missing the World Record by a mere 10th with their 3:15.27.
It marked the eighth straight long relay gold for the United States and it was the most impressive yet. The action started in the heats, where a mostly-different foursome ran 3:21.44 in a show of dominance to easily make the final.
That run started with Quanera Hayes in 51.27, followed by Little in an impressive 49.22. Aaliyah Butler hit 50.41 and Kaylyn Brown comfortably closed with a 50.54. That was more than enough to top Great Britain (3:24.72) and France (3:24.73). The second heat saw Jamaica win in 3:24.92 over Netherlands (3:25.03) and Ireland (3:25.05).
Lining up for the final, the announced U.S. order probably had an intimidating effect on the other teams. Little, though she hadn’t made the team in an individual event, had already run three relay legs in Paris, the slowest of them a 49.39. McLaughlin-Levrone had, of course, crushed her own WR in the 400H at 50.37. Thomas, a late substitute for Kendall Ellis, had won the 200 and been on the winning 4×1. And Holmes had run a PR of 49.77 for 6th in the 400 final.
The reigning world champion Netherlands, of course, brought in Femke Bol to anchor. Britain brought in Arkansas star Amber Anning.
Leg 1: Little separated the Americans from all of their pursuers, building a substantial lead with her 49.48, one of the fastest openers in history. Netherlands led the pursuit with Lieke Klaver at 50.25, followed by Ireland and Jamaica.
Leg 2: When SML got the stick, she tore away from the exchange zone and with each step moved farther from the rest. The lead the U.S. enjoyed grew to more than 30m. When she handed off to Thomas, she had run a brilliant 47.71. Behind her, Rhasidat Adeleke (48.92) moved Ireland into 2nd, in the process bumping the baton out of the hands of the Jamaican runner, Andrenette Knight. The Netherlands fell to 3rd, with Cathelijn Peeters running a 50.43.
Leg 3: Thomas stepped on the curb when receiving the baton, almost tripping. She recovered well to cruise a solo 49.30, handing off with a 40m lead. Great Britain moved into 2nd, Nicole Yeargin blasting a 49.88. Ireland held 3rd and the…
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