Greig Leach

So, back to the American Women's 4x100 Relay race. Team USA had protested that Allyson Felix had been run into by a Brazilian runner just as she was passing the baton to English Gardner. That was the reason for the dropped baton and the Americans losing the relay and the chance to compete in the final. The protest was sustained, but now how to have them race for a placing in the final? It was decided to have them run their race in their original lane assignment on their own, no one to compete with or measure one's self against. So with the entire arena watching, the team raced around the track alone. Not only did they qualify for the final, even racing on their own, they posted the fastest time in the revamped semi finals. For the record, Team Brazil was disqualified for crossing out of their lane, but then they hadn't made it through to the finals anyway.