SAINT-DENIS, France – The 4×100 relay Olympic medal drought continues for the U.S. men, who were disqualified after crossing the finish line in seventh place on Friday.
Canada finished first at 37.50, South Africa took second, running a 37.57 and Great Britain crossed the line at 37.61 to take Bronze.
Marred by botched handoffs at previous Olympics, Team USA allowed the issue to rear its ugly head again in Paris.
The team — Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Fred Kerley — bungled the handoff between Coleman and Bednarek. The exchange was late and Bednarek had to nearly stop completely to accept the baton. By the time he received it, the U.S. team was out of position.
The team was later disqualified for running out of the zone because Coleman passed the baton outside of the handoff zone.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
More:Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas steer U.S. women to gold medal in 4×100 relay
Regardless of the runners making up the U.S. men’s team, it has notoriously struggled with baton exchanges at the Olympics. They haven’t medaled in the 4×100 relay since taking silver at the 2004 Athens Games. The team’s last gold medal was at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
U.S. track star Noah Lyles, who won gold in the 100-meter dash and then contracted COVID-19 on Tuesday, did not take part in the men’s relay final because of his illness. But with a stable of other capable sprinters, the U.S. shouldn’t have needed Lyles to medal if the handoffs were clean.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
