Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles delivered stellar anchor legs to secure a U.S. relay sweep at the World Athletics Championships, battling through rain-soaked tracks to close the meet with resounding victories.
Richardson, taking the baton in the women’s 4x100m with a .01-second deficit to Jamaica, powered through to clinch a narrow 41.75-second win, finishing .04 seconds ahead. Her performance secured teammate Melissa Jefferson-Wooden her third gold medal of the championships and marked a poignant 17th world championship medal for 38-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who took silver in her final season.
The U.S. women also triumphed in the 4x400m relay, anchored by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, while Cole Hocker added to the medal tally with gold in the 5,000m, capping the nation’s strongest night of the meet. The United States concluded the championships with 26 medals, including 16 golds—matching their overall haul from the Tokyo Olympics stadium four years ago, though with nine more golds this time.
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In the men’s 4x100m relay, Noah Lyles combined with Christian Coleman, Courtney Lindsey and Kenny Bednarek to secure gold in 37.29 seconds, edging Canada by .26 seconds. The victory extended the U.S. winning streak in the event to two consecutive world championships, dating back to Budapest. Notably, Jamaica’s top sprinters were absent from the race after baton mishaps during qualifying.
The lone disappointment for the Americans came in the men’s 4x400m relay. Rai Benjamin received the baton with a .19-second lead but could not fend off Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi, who surged in the final stretch to secure a historic 2:57.76 victory for the emerging sprint power. Benjamin settled for silver, .07 seconds behind.
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