The U.S. team that will get a second chance to enter the 4×100 meters final late Thursday will have to rely on the same sprinters who competed in the morning session.
The track and field governing body says the team will use the “same athletes, same order, same lane.” This time though, there will be no one around to bump them.
During the team’s first try Thursday morning, Allyson Felix was obstructed by a Brazilian runner as she tried to hand over the baton to third-runner English Gardner, and dropped it in the process.
The U.S. team successfully protested and was granted a solo rerun. It has to beat a time of 42.70 seconds, belonging to the slowest qualifier, China, to get into Friday’s final.
The U.S. team set the world record of 40.82 at the 2012 London Games.
