Harper-Nelson shows no signs of slowing down in 100-meter hurdle final

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

Team USA put a loaded squad together for the women's 4x100-meter relay Saturday in London at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

The American women got off to a great start, as Aaliyah Brown got out of the blocks well, crushing a strong leadoff leg to hand off to the legendary Allyson Felix. Felix continued the fantastic American run, handing off to Morolake Akinosun in first place. Akinosun ran a strong curve, and then it was on to the anchor leg.

With Tori Bowie receiving the baton on the final leg, the American quartet could celebrate, as Bowie tore down the homestretch to victory, Team USA defeating second-place Great Britain, 41.82-42.12. What a race!

The victory helped Felix make history with her record 15th career World Championship medal, including her 10th gold, three of those coming in the 4x100 relay, along with 2007 and 2011.

The Women's 100-Meter Hurdles Final

In Rio, Team USA did the unthinkable and swept the podium in the women's 100 hurdles. On Saturday, a quartet of Americans lined up again with hopes of pulling off another three-medal performance, but hitting hurdles and falling out of rhythm proved to be the downfall of the unit, as only one American finalist medaled in veteran Dawn Harper-Nelson, who earned her fourth major international medal with a silver medal performance. 

Both reigning Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali and world record holder Keni Harrison hit hurdles during their race, causing them to finish eighth and fourth, respectively. Christina Manning, like Harrison competing in her first World Championships, placed fifth overall. 

While the Americans, minus Harper-Nelson, had hoped to finish better, the U.S. continues to dominate on the world stage with half of the final field in this event.

Best of the Rest

• While the American women dominated the 4x100 relay, the American men finished with a silver medal, losing to Great Britain, 37.47-37.52, with LSU graduate Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake surging past former Tennessee standout Christian Coleman in the final 15 meters to secure the first world title in the event for the British quartet. While second might seem a little less than fantastic for a country with such a strong sprint corps, the fact that the American men were able to finish without a dropped baton, poor handoff or some other mishap was a win.
  
  
• Relay member and 100 world champion Justin Gatlin said afterward, “My whole thing was making sure we had a bond, synergy and we got the stick around. We did that. I think it’s a great foundation to build on. The last few years we’ve bobbled sticks or been DQ’d and to be able to finish the night off with a great run, smooth execution all around the track, I think that we can consistently get on the podium from now on.”
  
  
• A slow race set up a fantastic finish in the men's 5,000 final. American Paul Chelimo took advantage of pacing, positioned himself perfectly for the final stages of the race and kicked home furiously, earning bronze. Chelimo ran a similar race at the Rio Olympics last summer, earning silver. An Olympic medal and now a World Championship medal show just how good Chelimo is in championship style events.

The Fall of Champions

After his bronze medal performance in the 100 final earlier in the World Championships, fans showed up Saturday hoping to see Usain Bolt claim gold one final time. The retiring legend spiked up and was ready to race. While Team Jamaica was far off the lead when Bolt received the baton, the legend pulled up with an apparent leg injury on the anchor leg - a sad ending to the career of the 11-time world champion.

Similarly, in the men's 5,000, Mo Farah lost his final race on the track at the World Championships, too. Farah was outkicked by Ethiopian Muktar Edris, settling for silver, 13:32.79-13:33.22.

American Medalists

Here is the most updated list of American medalists at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships:

Total - 27  |  Gold - 9  |  Silver - 10  |  Bronze - 8

Gold - Tori Bowie (women's 100m dash)
Gold - Kori Carter (women's 400m hurdles)
Gold - Emma Coburn (women's 3000m steeplechase)
Gold - Phyllis Francis (women's 400m)
Gold - Justin Gatlin (men's 100m)
Gold - Sam Kendricks (men's pole vault)
Gold - Brittney Reese (women's long jump)
Gold - Christian Taylor (men's triple jump)
Gold - Women's 4x100m relay

Silver - Will Claye (men's triple jump)
Silver - Christian Coleman (men's 100m)
Silver - Courtney Frerichs (women's 3000m steeplechase)
Silver - Dawn Harper-Nelson (women's 100m hurdles)
Silver - Joe Kovacs (men's shot put)
Silver - Jarrion Lawson (men's long jump)
Silver - Sandi Morris (women's pole vault)
Silver - Dalilah Muhammad (women's 400m hurdles)
Silver - Jenny Simpson (women's 1500m)
Silver - Men's 4x100-meter relay

Bronze - Tianna Bartoletta (women's long jump)
Bronze - Michelle Carter (women's shot put)
Bronze - Paul Chelimo (men's 5000m)
Bronze - Kerron Clement (men's 400m hurdles)
Bronze - Amy Cragg (women's marathon)
Bronze - Allyson Felix (women's 400m)
Bronze - Mason Finley (men's discus)
Bronze - Evan Jager (men's 3000m steeplechase)

And Remember...