Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4x400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis of the U.S. passes the baton to Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
DOHA (Reuters) - The United States stormed to victory in the women's 4x400 metres relay at the world championships on Sunday after leading from the start to clock the best time this year.
U.S. Olympic champion relay runner Phyllis Francis opened a comfortable lead before passing the baton to Sydney McLaughlin, silver medallist in the 400m hurdles at the worlds in Doha.
Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4 X 400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis, Sydney Mclaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Wadeline Jonathas of the U.S. celebrate after winning gold. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
The U.S. lead was retained by 400m hurdles world champion and world record holder Dalilah Muhammad, allowing Wadeline Jonathas to close out the race in 3 minutes 18:92 seconds.
McLaughlin and Muhammad only found out on Sunday morning that they would be competing in the relay, highlighting the depth of the U.S. team.
"It's never definite for Team USA. There are a lot of great girls who can run," McLaughlin said after the race.
Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4 X 400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis, Sydney Mclaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad and Wadeline Jonathas of the U.S. celebrate after the race. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
"It's really exciting especially with (the) Tokyo (Olympics) next year that anybody can do this relay."
Poland finished almost three seconds behind the United States, winning silver in a national record time of 3:21.89.
Jamaica finished third but were at first disqualified for lining up incorrectly in the second changeover, with their medal reallocated to fourth-place finishers Britain.
Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4x400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis of the U.S. passes the baton to Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
However, the Jamaicans were reinstated shortly after when it was ruled they had not gained an advantage from the violation.
The medal spot was returned to Jamaica, who ran a season's best time of 3:22.37, after a British appeal was rejected.
Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4 X 400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis and Sydney Mclaughlin of the U.S. in action. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; additional reporting by Gene Cherry; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4 X 400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019. Phyllis Francis and Sydney Mclaughlin of the U.S. in action. REUTERS/Hannah MckayAthletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Women's 4x400 Metres Relay Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 6, 2019 Phyllis Francis of the U.S. passes the baton to Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. during the final REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari
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