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WATCH: Vernon Norwood-led USA Mixed 4x400m Relay Team breaks World Record during heats at Paris Olympics 2024
Track and field events at the Paris Olympics have begun, and Team USA have made history on the second day itself. Running the mixed 4x400m relay, the country's sprinters clocked a 3:07.41, bettering their own world record.
The mixed 4x400m relay was introduced to the Games in 2020, with the US settling for bronze in Tokyo, despite fielding a team that was the favorite to win. The team have been world record holders in the event since 2019, the first time a world record in the event was recognised by the IAAF (now World Athletics).
In 2019, they set a time of 3:12.42 in the heats of the World Championships, before they beat that time with a 3:09.34 in the finals. Four years later, Team USA clocked a 3:08.80 at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, marking a new world record, with the team featuring Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, and Alexis Holmes.
Now, running in the heats for the Paris Olympics, Team USA have set yet another record in the mixed 4x400m relay. It was Vernon Norwood who got the team off to a strong start, with Shamier Little and Bryce Deadmon excelling on the second and third legs, before Kaylyn Brown brought it home.
Watch a video of the stunning race below:
Paris Olympics 2024: Where and when to watch mixed 4x400m relay finals
With this stunning run in the heats, Team USA will head into the mixed 4x400m relay finals at the Paris Olympics a strong favorite to win. The finals are scheduled for 20:55 pm local time on August 3, with a live stream available on NBC, NBC's Peacock, or the USA Network.
Joining the US in the finals will be seven other teams - France, Belgium, Jamaica, Poland, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Italy. In their respective heats, France, Belgium, Jamaica, and Great Britain set new national records, while Poland set a season best.
However, none of the other seven qualified teams came close to dipping under 3:10.00 in the heats, with France being the fastest at 3:10.60.
As the finals approach, outside of Team USA and France, the quartet from the Netherlands is expected to feature on the podium tomorrow. Fans will also be curious to see if the Americans can set yet another world record as they bid to claim the gold they missed out on four years ago.
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