US women’s 4x100m relay team had to beat China’s time to make final after dropped baton drama

THE USA 4x100m relay team had a major calamity. In bizarre scenes, they were given the chance to make up for it on an empty track in a near-empty stadium.

Allyson Felix (R) screams in frustration as she attempts to hand the baton to English Gardner.

IT was a bizarre start to the Olympics finals session in Rio as the USA women’s relay team ran a solo time trial to reach the final of the 4x100m, leaving China seething at their exit.

The Americans were disqualified in the morning’s heats then allowed to run a trial after it was adjudged they suffered interference by Brazil.

Set the mark of 42.70 to beat the eighth-ranked Chinese and knock them out of the final, the US team had a flawless run of 40.82, the third fastest time of the year in the event.

“Our coach said it was just like a practice, just the whole world was watching,” said English Gardner.

Gardner acknowledged it was easier for the US runners to put up a strong time with no one else in the “race”.

“It was easier to see our runners’ hands, have safe exchanges,” Gardner said. “It was a lot more comfortable.”

China had earlier protested the organisers decision to allow the US a chance to advance at their expense.

United States' Allyson Felix, left, hands off safely to English Gardner in their relay re-run.

Morolake Akinosun, Tianna Bartoletta, English Gardner and Allyson Felix of the United States celebrate in muted fashion after their relay re-run.

“It’s very unfair,” Chinese reporter Yujia Dou told foxsports.com.au. “Under the rules, the entire heat two should have been run again. The runners are very upset.”

Gardner said she felt for the Chinese team, who had suffered a double blow. They posted the same time as Canada but lost but on thousandths of a second

“We wish them the best of luck,” Gardner said. “It’s unfortunate that it happened. I wish it didn’t happen this way and we could all have the chance to compete because we all worked hard to have the opportunity to run the relay and they missed out on the opportunity. My heart is heavy for them.”

Allyson Felix (R) screams in frustration as she attempts to hand the baton to English Gardner.

The time was the fastest of all finalists but the US will be allocated either lane one or eight. It was a strange event, as the team was heartily cheered on by the local crowd, despite their team being disqualified after tangling with Felix.

“We expected boos,” said Gardner. “We got a team disqualified and we knocked a team out. I remember when we were walking out and we got the cheers and I said to Allyson [Felix] I wasn’t expecting that.”

Felix said: “It was a little weird, when we walked out and people were cheering for us, it uplifted us.”

Her reaction when the initial incident took place was, “Why me? I was stunned and shocked. I’ve never been in anything like that but I knew what had happened and that’s not how it goes. I think the process was fair.”

Allyson Felix throws her head back in anguish.

The heat was won by Germany’s quartet in 42.18 sec ahead of Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and disqualified Brazil.

In the other semi-final, Jamaica stormed to victory in 41.79 sec. The Jamaican women — including heavyweight veterans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce — were pushed all the way by Britain, who finished in 41.93 sec.

English Gardner (L) and Allyson Felix are dumbstruck after dropping the baton.

Jamaica’s newly-crowned 100m and 200m champion Elaine Thompson sat out the heat but will return for the final.

“We are putting things together well but we’ll have to change a few things for the final,” Campbell-Brown said.

“There will be some changes that you will see tomorrow, Elaine will definitely be on.”

Originally published as US women’s 4x100m relay team had to beat China’s time to make final after dropped baton drama