U.S. women win 400-meter relay in world record time

LONDON — The U.S. women’s 400-meter relay team of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter broke the nearly 27-year-old world record in the event Friday night, putting together a spectacular sequence and winning in 40.82 seconds.

That gave Felix, the 200-meter champion, her second gold of the Games while Jeter now has a full set of medals, having won silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200 before anchoring the gold medal-winning relay on Friday.

The previous world record was set on Oct. 6, 1985, by East Germany. The Olympic record of 41.60, also set by East Germany in 1980, fell as well.

The Jamaican quartet of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart was second in a national-record time of 41.41. Ukraine took the bronze in 42.04 seconds, also a national record.

The American foursome continued a rare perfect night for U.S. relay teams. The women’s 1,600-meter quartet won its heat and the men’s 400-meter relay team — anchored by Justin Gatlin, running what he said was his first anchor stint since high school — also won its heat and got the baton around without incident.

ALSO:

London Olympics: Daily dose of David Beckham

U.S. women’s basketball team rallies to defeat Australia

U.S. women’s soccer team is already cashing in on gold medal