American win at the Olympic Games is sealed by 43.40 split by 400m hurdles star on Saturday night in Tokyo

The United States’ male track athletes failed to win the 100m, 200m and 400m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 4x100m and mixed 4x400m relay. However, surely they couldn’t go home from Tokyo with no titles in those events for the first time (other than Moscow’s boycotted 1980 Games)?

They couldn’t and in the 4x400m they could have probably fielded B and C teams and gained a clean sweep if the rules allowed.

It did not start perfectly as Michael Cherry ran a 44.2 opener but Botswana’s Isaac Makwala ran a sensational 43.8 which is probably the fastest opening leg in history at any event.

At this stage Trinidad (Deon Lendore 44.3) were a close third, Belgium fourth (Alexander Doom 44.9), Netherlands fifth (Liemarvin Bonevacia 45.0), Poland’s Dariusz Kowaluk (45.0), Jamaica (Demish Gaye 45.2) and Italy (Davide Re 45.2) for the best ever quality first leg.

Michael Norman ran a controlled second leg for the USA and finished well, but his leg was only 44.0. However, USA were ahead at halfway in 1:28.29 ahead of Botswana on 1:28.67 (Baboloki Thebe 44.7) who, in turn, were just up on Poland on 1:28.71 (Karol Zalewski – another brilliant leg of 43.6).

Also in contention were Netherlands (Terence Agard a shock 43.7) on 1:28.78, Trinidad on 1:28.98 (Jereem Richards 44.6),  Belgium 1:29.02 (Jonathan Sacoor 44.0) and Jamaica 1:29.20 after a 43.9 by Olympic finalist Christopher Taylor.

Even last-placed Italy on 1:29.49 (Vladimir Aceti 44.2) were hoping for medals.

Bryce Deadmon, the one athlete to be retained from the heats, stretched out on leg three and his 44.01 meant the USA were clear in 2:12.30 with the Dutch now surprisingly in second on 2:13.06 after a 44.28 and strong finish by Tony van Diepen.

The minor medals were still up for grabs, though, as Botswana were right behind on 2:13.07 (Zibane Ngozi 44.40) with a slight gap to Belgium on 2:13.70 (Dylan Borlee 44.68) and Poland on 2:14.15 (45.44 by Mateusz Rzezniczak) and Jamaica on 2:14.35 (Jaheel Hyde 45.15).

On the final leg USA went further away as 400m hurdles silver medallist Rai Benjamin exhibited his flat speed with a stunning solo 43.40 leg to give USA victory in a fast 2:55.70 for the second fastest ever time in the Olympics, just missing their 2008 time in Beijing.

It was close for second and a great finish by Angela Ramsey who ran 44.12 to complete a Dutch record 2:57.18 and take a medal that many thought more likely go to a Femke Bol-inspired women’s team.

Just behind them were a delighted Botswana as Bapayo Ndori ran 44.20 to complete an African record 2:57.27.

Belgium closed through Kevin Borlee’s 44.18 and that gave them 2:57.88 and the fourth national record in the top five.

After a gold in the mixed relay and silver in the women’s 4x400m, Poland probably hoped for a bronze here but a 44.31 split by Katejan Duszynski couldn’t quite make up for their third leg. However they still ran a fast 2:58.46 just ahead of Jamaica (2:58.76 after a 44.41 by Nathon Allen).

Italy completed a brilliant Games with a national record 2:58.81 with a 44.25 by Alessandro Sibilio.