By Mitch Phillips
PARIS (Reuters) – The United States look well-placed to regain the Olympic women’s 4×100 metres relay title from Jamaica after qualifying fastest, despite a changeover scare, in Thursday’s heats.
The U.S. took gold ahead of their big rivals in 2012 and 2016 but were knocked back into second in Tokyo.
Jamaica, however, are shorn of the superstars who brought them home three years ago, while the U.S. were able to field an immensely powerful and in-form quartet.
Melissa Jefferson (third in the 100), Twanisha Terry (fifth in the 100), Gabby Thomas (200 gold medallist) and Sha’carri Richardson (silver in the 100), the latter three having won world gold in the relay event last year.
They sailed close to the wind with the second changeover as Terry struggled to catch Thomas, losing considerable ground to Germany which Richardson duly made up with a terrific last leg as they qualified fastest in 41.94 seconds.
Britain, bronze medallists in the last two Games, made it through as winners of the second heat in 42.03 and will be considerably strengthened by the return of Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita for the final.
There was plenty of noise too for second-placed France (42.13), with Jamaica struggling home a distant third in 42.35.
Canada finished fourth in a national record of 42.50 to go through to Friday’s final as a fast loser.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ken Ferris)
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