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Kaylyn Brown anchors Team USA to set world record in mixed 4x400m relay heat with time of 3:07.41

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•08/02/24•

AndrewEdGraham

Olympics: Athletics-Evening Session
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The United States qualified for the finals of the 4 x 400 meter mixed relay on track in Paris in world record fashion on Friday. And the quartet of Americans was powered home in the heat by Arkansas sprinter Kaylyn Brown.

All told, the four runners — Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Brown — clocked a 3:07.41, the fastest time on record in the event. They’ll now have a chance to best it, or at least come close, as they compete for gold in the finals.

And as Brown took the baton around the final corner of the race, it was visually evident just how dominant the Americans were on Friday.

The previous world record — set by the United States at the 2023 world championships in Budapest — was 3:08.80.

But the time almost didn’t come together, as Little noticed she wasn’t quite on her mark when Norwood came around with the baton.

“I had in my mind, I was locked in and I just saw my mark, I went to my mark and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, something’s not right.’ Made the adjustment, and I was able to bounce back from it,” Little said on NBC post race.

The group that ran the race for the United States was also a departure from the expected group, with Brown making the cut for at least the qualifiers.

And after a world record run, the U.S. coaches might be inclined to let the same foursome run again in the finals.

“You know I’m just blessed, you know, coming off of trials I didn’t make top 3 but I’m blessed to be here with these amazing people and just bring it home for them,” Brown said.

Sha’Carri Richardson made her Olympic debut

Sha’Carri Richardson had a dominant debut in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Friday, cruising to victory in her first-round heat of the women’s 100m with a time of 10.94 seconds.

Richardson advanced to Saturday’s semifinal round after her performance in the first of eight heats Friday morning. Richardson spoke with NBC Sports after her run and described the feeling of making her Olympics debut.

“To be at the Olympics is a phenomenal feeling, to be an athlete here, competing with energy and great appreciation for track and field, it gives great support to be a track and field athlete, so I’m super excited and eager to compete on the Olympic stage,” Richardson said.

Richardson, 24, was originally supposed to make her Olympics debut in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo after finishing first in the United States Olympic Trials. Shortly thereafter, Richardson tested positive for marijuana. She was suspended four weeks and ruled ineligible to compete in Tokyo.

Richardson did participate in the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, winning gold in the women’s 100m. She recorded a time of 10.65 seconds, well ahead of the time she posted in Friday’s heat.

The Worlds is the biggest stage Richardson had been on up until Friday and helped her prepare for the Olympics.

“Absolutely, I think that last year Worlds being the biggest stage I’ve been on, that being an almost mini-Olympics itself, it definitely gives a little preparation actually being at the Olympic games itself,” Richardson said.