Richards-Ross golden again as U.S 4x400m cruises to fifth-straight Olympic victory
Aug. 11, 2012 LONDON – Former Longhorn Sanya Richards-Ross closed out her 2012 Olympic campaign in style, anchoring the United States’ 4x400m relay team to a commanding fifth-straight Olympic gold medal in the event on Saturday. The U.S. team of DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Richards-Ross ran the Olympic final in 3:16.87, the fifth-fastest mark in history and the fastest time in the world since 1993. The Americans beat silver medalist Russia (3:20.23) by more than three seconds. Jamaica took home the bronze. For Richards-Ross, it was a sweet ending to a London Games that saw her win her first individual gold medal in the 400m and become only the third woman all-time to race in both the Olympic 400m and 200m finals. In addition to her bronze medal in the 400m in Beijing in 2008, she has raced for the past three Olympic gold medal-winning 4x400m relay teams for the U.S. dating back to 2004 in Athens, bringing her total Olympic medal count to five. “They made it too easy for me," said Richards-Ross. "It felt good to do this in front of such a big crowd...It’s been phenomenal, it’s been such a great experience.” America has not lost the women’s 4x400m relay since its silver medal performance in 1992. Richards-Ross owns two of the three medals won in London by current and former members of the Texas Women’s Track & Field program. Bianca Knight ran the third leg for the world record-setting U.S. 4x100m relay team in both Thursday’s qualification heats and Friday’s final round.
Saturday, August 11 Women’s 4x400m Relay Final 1. United States (3:16.87) 2. Russia (3:20.23) 3. Jamaica (3:20.95) 4. Ukraine (3:23.57) 5. Great Britain (3:24.76) 6. France (3:25.92) 7. Czech Republic (3:27.77) -- Nigeria (DQ) |
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