U.S. looking strong in bid to reclaim 4x400m relay title

Athletics - World Athletics Championships – women’s 4 x 400 meters relay heats – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 12, 2017 – Natasha Hastings of the U.S. wins the heat. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States ran a world leading time in the women's 4x400 metres relay heats at the World Athletics Championships, having done the same in the 4x100m earlier on Saturday.

The U.S., who finished as runners-up in the 4x400m two years ago after four successive world titles, were anchored by Natasha Hastings and finished 20 metres ahead of the British team, in a world leading time of 3 minutes and 21.66 seconds.

Britain's quartet qualified in 3:24.74, with Botswana clinching the third automatic place in the first heat to make it through to Sunday's final.

There was heartbreak in the second heat for the Bahamas, running without Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller Uibo, as Christine Amertil stumbled and fell 200 metres into her second leg. The team did not finish the race.

The heat was won by Jamaica in 3:23.64, with Nigeria and Germany coming second and third.

Poland and France also qualified for the final as the fastest losers.

(Reporting by Christian Radnedge; Editing by Toby Davis)