Poland shocks to take gold in 4x400 mixed relay
Poland was a surprise winner in the Olympic debut of the 4x400 mixed relay event, holding off a late charge from an American team that didn’t have Allyson Felix in the lineup.
The Dominican Republic finished with the silver medal and the Americans took bronze. There was some thought Felix might be on the track for the relay with a chance to win her record 10th Olympic medal. It will have to wait.
Both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic teams had an anxious night after being disqualified following the qualifying round the day before. They were each reinstated after appeals.
Neither could catch Poland’s team of Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Swiety-Ersetic and Kajetan Duszynski. They finished in a time of 3 minutes, 9.87 seconds at Olympic Stadium.
The Dominican Republic contingent of Lidio Andres Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Anabel Medina Ventura and Alexander Ogando wound up 0.34 seconds behind.
The American squad was made up of Trevor Stewart, Kendall Ellis, Kaylin Whitney and Vernon Norwood. They were .01 seconds behind the Dominicans.