USA Women’s 4x400m Team Claims Gold at World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25

Tokyo, Japan – The United States women’s relay team won gold in the 4x400m event at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Sunday, setting a championship record of 3:16.61 despite wet conditions at the Japan National Stadium.

Jamaica took home the silver medal with a time of 3:19.25, while the Netherlands secured bronze, finishing in 3:20.18. The US team of Isabella Whittaker, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Aaliyah Butler, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated the race, with all four athletes posting the fastest splits on their respective legs.

Whittaker opened the race strong with a 50.12-second split, followed by Irby-Jackson, who extended their lead to over 10 meters with a stunning 48.71-second leg. Butler added to the lead, recording a 49.96 before handing the baton to McLaughlin-Levrone, the individual 400m champion. McLaughlin-Levrone dashed through her leg, clocking in at 47.82 seconds, culminating in a victorious performance.

This championship win marked a significant achievement for the US team, as they broke their previous record set in Stuttgart in 1993. Having won 11 out of the past 17 titles, this victory came as sweet redemption following their disqualification in Budapest two years ago.

“When you have great teammates, it’s amazing,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “It was just an incredible race.” Irby-Jackson also expressed her joy, stating, “To just be able to bring the gold medal home is incredible.”

Jamaica’s strong performance was highlighted by their anchor, Nickisha Pryce, who secured silver with a final leg of 48.50 seconds, while the Netherlands’ top split came from Lieke Klaver at 49.08 seconds. Bol, a multi-medalist at the event, emphasized the teamwork and hard work that led to their third-place finish.

The race concluded with Belgium finishing fourth at 3:22.15 and Poland fifth at 3:22.91, while Norway set a national record of 3:23.71, marking a historic day for women’s relay racing.