Dope Sh-t: US Women Smash 4x100m World Record, Team USA Racks Up Medals

By: Taren Vaughan

The U.S. women’s 4x100m relay team definitely had some incredible speed on it with Tianna Madison, 200-meter champion Allyson Felix and Bianca Knight, who gave anchor leg Carmelita Jeter a huge lead heading to the finish line, a lead that resulted in an amazing win for Team USA. The expression on Carmelita Jeter’s face as she was approaching the finish line was priceless, as she pointed at the clock with the baton in hand, beyond thrilled about what her and her teammates had accomplished.

It was at that moment that not only had Jeter realized that the relay team was about to capture the gold, they were about to do it in world record time. Team USA broke the world record with this win, a record that had been long standing for 27 years. This was the United States’ first gold medal in this event since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jamaica came in second with a time of 41.41 seconds, a team that consisted of the fastest woman in the world 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart. Ukraine came in third, getting the bronze medal in 42.04 seconds.

This past Saturday, the U.S. women did even more work on the track, coming in first place in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, which included DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix and Francena McCorory and Gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross. This win made Allyson Felix the first U.S. woman to win three golds in Olympic track since Florence Griffith-Joyner did it in 1988, winning the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay.

Adding more to the medal collection, the U.S. men collected a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay, setting a new United States record at 37.04 .

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

The U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams secured gold medals as well, the men defeating Spain 107-100 (2nd gold medal in a row for them) and the women defeating France 86-50.

Photo Credit:  AP Charles Krupa

The U.S. women’s volleyball team won a silver medal last night as well, a team that Destinee Hooker and Former Durham Riverside star Megan Hodge were members of.