The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS a wire-to-wire finish for the United States as they successfully repeated as champions and set a new meet record in the process.

The team of Chanelle Price, Maggie Vessey, Molly Beckwith-Ludlow and Alysia Johnson-Montano finished in 8:00.62s for a new World Relays record in the 4 x 800 metre relay. It was also the fastest time in the event in more than two decades.

Price, the only carry over from the 2014 gold-medal winning team, came in with the third fastest time in the world in the individual event at 2:00.62s. She got the US off to a blistering start in the eight lapper with a 2:01.30s split and placed the team in second place.

“This experience has been so much fun. I was a part of the team that established the championship record last year and nobody was expecting it to be broken again this year, but we came out and did it again.”

Vessey, making her world relays debut with the No.5 time on the top list at 2:01.58s, easily bypassed a brief lead for Cuba with her split of 2:00.92s to take control for the United States for good.

“It was an amazing experience and thanks to the fans, to the Bahamian people for their hospitality and hosting this event.”

The final two legs were the fastest for the Americans as they blew away the field. It was Beckwith-Ludlow who broke the two-minute barrier for the first time in the race when she ran 1:59.90s to give her team a five second lead headed into the final exchange.

“I’m happy to be running amongst the fastest athletes and looking forward to coming back and breaking it again,” she said.

She handed the baton off to Johnson-Montana who turned in the fastest split of the race in 1:58.90s.

Poland held off a back-straight challenge from Australia to finish second in a national record of 8:11.36. Australia finished one place higher than they did last year, taking third in 8:13.97.

There were national records for Cuba in fourth with 8:15.84 and Jamaica in fifth with 8:16.04s.