The Americans predictably concluded the track programme at the third IAAF World Championships with a gold medal in the medley relay.
With the USA quartet’s passage to gold cleared by the disqualification of the highly rated Jamaican squad from their heat, Michael Grant the silver medallist in the 200m handed the baton to third leg runner Jamaal Charles in a five metre lead from the Japanese.
But the third leg runner for Japan, Naohiro Shinada, who won long jump gold, produced a storming 300m leg to haul them back level with the United States as they handed the baton on to the final leg athletes.
However, there was to be no surprise as Cedric Goodman, who won silver in the individual 400m, proved far too strong for Japan’s Go Tanabe and the USA crossed the finish line in 1:52.03.
In a thrilling race for silver Poland’s Ziemowit Rys caught Tanabe on the line to snatch the medal in 1:53.08 to 1:53.11.
