by Larry Eder
Allyson Felix to English Gardner, photo by PhotoRun.net
To quote the late Jerry Garcia, co-founder of the iconic band, The Greatful Dead: “what a long strange trip it’s been.”
The women’s U.S. 4×100 meter team has seen several of Dantes Circles of Hell. The first round saw the US team drop the baton, but, with the quick thinking of Allyson Felix, English Gardner grabbed the baton and the US team finished the race in 1:06.76. An appeal was made, and the U.S. team had to run once again. This was a race where all watched and only the U.S. team ran. They had to break 42.70. They ran 41.77, and went from DQ to fastest qualifier.
The final was sublime.
Tianna Bartoletta ran a near perfect first leg with an elegant pass to Allyson Felix. Speaking of elegance, Allyson Felix ran a wonderful leg and passed to English Gardner who ran as if she was racing in Eugene, burning the curve, and then, with a swift pass to Tori Bowie and a scream! Tori Bowie, focused and flying, ran the finest race of her Rio Olympics trio,, and flew down the straight, anchoring the US in 41.02, a world leader and the second fastest time EVER!
In a very exciting 4x100m, the USA team (Tianna Bartolleta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner, Tori Bowie) won in 41.02, with splendiferous handoffs! Jamaica took the silver (41.36, with Christiana Williams, Elaine Thompson, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce), with GBR in bronze in 41.77NR (Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita), with Germany, 42.10, Trinidad & Tobago, 42.12 SB, Ukraine, 42.36 SB, Canada, 43.15, Nigeria, 43.21.
It was very nice to see a mix of the veterans and new stars on the US team. Tianna Bartolleta flies around the first leg, and Allyson took the baton and owned that second leg. Allyson to English was great and English burned the turn. English to Tori Bowie was fantastic and Tori Bowie ran the entire leg focused on one thing, winning the 4x100m for her team and US. Great run by Jamaica and huge run by Great Britain.
My final feeling about the 4×100 meters, was that, even with such a fast race, no one lost the baton.
Gotta say, USA women’s 4x100m team did it right, and with the second fastest time EVER (oh, the US has the numero one too!). ‪#‎rio2016‬
