London 2012 Olympics: Americans on top of the world as 27-year relay record is broken

A FEROCIOUS final leg by Carmelita Jeter secured the 4x100-metre relay gold – and a new world record – for the United States last night. It was the second night running a world record had been breaking, following David Rudisha’s 800m run, and was the reward for a beautifully timed race by the American quartet.

Jeter brought the baton home in 40.82 seconds, ahead of Jamaica, whose 41.41sec was a national record – as was the 42.04 recorded by bronze medallists Ukraine. The Americans – Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and then Jeter – always had the edge over their Jamaican rivals, and Jeter stretched their lead to close to ten metres by the line.

The previous record of 41.37, one of the oldest on the books, had stood since 1985 when it was set by an East German quartet. The system in the old German Democratic Republic which brought success on the track has since been discredited because of its policy of doping athletes.

While the Americans celebrated, there was yet another disappointing outing for the Great Britain men’s sprint relay squad, who were disqualified after coming second in their semi-final because of an illegal changeover. All appeared well for three-quarters of the race, but the final handover between Daniel Talbot and Adam Gemili took place just outside the zone. “Maybe I went early or too hard,” 18-year-old Gemili said. “It’s disappointing as we could have been in contention in the final.”

Christian Malcolm, a veteran of the squad along with Dwain Chambers, tried to look on the bright side, and suggested that Gemili had not set off too soon. “I know we are going to get the snipers out on this now for not getting the baton round, but we have to take the positives - we ran a 37.93,” he said. “We haven’t run that quick since 2007, and we have two exceptional youngsters on the team who did a fantastic job. It’s unfortunate, you know. Adam didn’t go off early – he went on the check mark, but whatever you do in training, you can’t recreate what happens when you get in that arena.

“When you’ve got someone as exceptionally talented and they rise to the occasion - that is what he did, he rose to the occasion. He got his adrenalin going and he went out hard. It was unfortunate that Danny couldn’t catch him. They are the future now. If these guys can be in a team and run a 37.9 at that age then it all bodes well for the future.”

It does if the squad can learn from their mistakes, but unfortunately there is little sign as yet that they are able to do so. They were also disqualified in the last Olympics, and have messed up baton changes in five of the last six major championships. The British team in the men’s 4x400 relay fared better, and were just run out of the medals, finishing fourth. The Bahamas won in a thrilling race for the line, beating the USA into second place. Trinidad & Tobago held off the GB challenge.

Even without Usain Bolt, Jamaica qualified easily for the final of the men’s 4x100, which will be the final event of the athletics programme in the stadium tonight. Bolt, winner of the sprint double here, is set to cement his place as the face of the Games with a third gold this evening to complete the same feat he achieved in 2008.

In the women’s 5,000m, Tirunesh Dibaba looked in control and on course to complete the double which Mo Farah will attempt tonight, having won the 10,000m last week. The Ethiopian increased the pace by five seconds per lap three laps from home, and although nine others remained in touch with her, by the bell only six remained in total, and Dibaba looked sure to outkick the others.

But, in the last 70m, she was overtaken by compatriot Meseret Defar, who crossed the line in 15:04.25 – and by Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot, whose time was 15:04.73. Dibaba took bronze in 15:05.15, while Britain’s Jo Pavey and Julia Bleasdale were seventh and eighth respectively. Defar celebrated by brandishing an image of the Virgin Mary and Child which she seemed to have secreted down her top, which is where she returned it for safe keeping before setting off on her lap of honour.

There was a Turkish one-two in the women’s 1,500, with Asli Cakir Alptekin taking gold ahead of Gamze Bulut. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, who had taken the lead in the home straight, had to settle for third.

World No 1 Morgan Uceny of the USA fell just after the bell and was unable to continue. The same fate had befallen her in last year’s world championships.

Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey was tenth, just ahead of compatriot Laura Weightman. Dobriksey’s career has been badly disrupted by injury in the last couple of years: in 2010 she was out with two different injuries, while earlier this year she was diagnosed with blood clots on a lung and was advised to take six months away from athletics.

The women’s hammer throw was won by Tatyana Lysenko of Russia, and the men’s pole vault was won by Renaud Lavillenie of France with an Olympic record of 5.97m. Britain’s Steve Lewis was equal fifth.