United States' Woes Continue For 4x100m

You think that when you have three experienced runners, you'll get through the preliminary rounds easily. Not for the United States.

Both the men and women's 4x100m team did not qualify to the finals last night after two trivial mistakes. First, the women could not complete the baton exchange between Alex Anderson and Muna Lee, second and third leg respectively. Anderson missed putting the baton into Lee's hand twice and consequently, she tripped Lee. Lee wobbled and pulled her left hamstring.

As for the men's 4x100m relay team, they completed the 4x100m in first place, but Great Britain petitioned that the United States did not pass the baton within the exchange zone during the final exchange. Anchor Darvis Patton took off late, and third leg Shawn Crawford abruptly slowed down to avoid collision. However, according to IAAF rules, the baton can only touch the person one is passing off to AFTER both individuals are within the exchange zone.


This was not the case with Crawford and Patton.

The United States 4x100m teams have not placed during major competitions since the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.