IAAF World Indoors - men's and women's 4x400m final reports:

WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE -

Men’s 4x400m relay final report:

The USA quartet smashed the 15-year-old men’s 4x400m relay world record, scorching to victory in 3:02.13.

Led off by the individual 2014 world indoor 400m bronze medallist, Kyle Clemons who settled behind Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s two-time world indoor 4x400m runner-up, Conrad Williams, the US squad then utilised 2014 world indoor 400m fourth-placer, David Verburg who moved them into the lead.

Clocking a 45.62 split, Verburg passed the baton on to Kind Butler who recorded 45.41 on the third leg before 2012 world indoor 4x400m champion, Calvin Smith who in turn brought the Americans home with an impressive 45.12 final effort.

Improving the previous world record by seven tenths of a second, the USA’s gold medal-winning performance captured the nation’s ninth title in the 12 editions of this event in the championship.

With silver, Great Britain registered a 3:03.49 season’s best in a tight battle which saw the Jamaican team settle for the bronze medal with a 3:03.69 national record.

Poland finished fourth in a 3:04.39 season’s best whilst Russia placed fifth in 3:07.12 and Ukraine in sixth with 3:08.79.

 

 

Women’s 4x400m final report:

 

The USA asserted their dominance from the outset, storming to a world-leading 3:24.83 victory in the women’s 4x400m relay – an event, quite surprisingly, the Americans have won only once in the history of this championship.

 

Led by three-time world outdoor 4x400m champion and 2010 world indoor 4x400m gold medallist, Natasha Hastings who – after three faulty starts - composed herself to speed to a 51.95 opener – the US quartet then utilised the world indoor 400m 6th-placer, Joanna Atkins who registered a 50.85 split to maintain their comfortable winning margin.

 

Benefitting from the individual world indoor 400m champion, Francena McCorory who sprinted to an impressive 50.36 clocking, the gold medallist then trusted NCAA 400m hurdles champion, Cassandra Tate to anchor them home with a 51.67 split in first position.

 

Improving on their 3:29.06 world lead from the qualifying round, the US outfit finished clear of Jamaica who bettered their 3:29.43 national record from the heats to clock 3:26.54.

 

2012 world indoor winners, Great Britain and Northern Ireland captured the bronze medal ahead of eight-time champions, Russia as world outdoor 400m champion, Christine Ohuruogu completed their campaign in a 3:27.90 season’s best.

 

Poland finished in fourth place with 3:29.89 as Nigeria placed fifth in 3:31.59, a day after recorded their 3:29.67 personal best.