US wins gold in Men’s 400 relay

The ASSOCIATED PRESS

8 years ago

United States’ Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Gil Roberts and LaShawn Merritt celebrate winning the gold medal in the men’s 4 x 400-meter medals ceremony, during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)

LaShawn Merritt anchored the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team to win an Olympic gold medal and regain control of the event at the games.

Four years after the Bahamas beat the U.S. team, the Americans finished with a time of 2 minutes 57.30 seconds. The Jamaicans brought the baton home .86 seconds later. The defending champion Bahamas took bronze in 2:58.49.

Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, and Gil Roberts set up Merritt for the win. The veteran already has two gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and eight world championship gold medals stretching as far back as 2005.

He won bronze in the 400 earlier this week in Rio.