EUGENE, Oregon: The sparse crowd on the opening morning of the World Athletics Championships had something to cheer on Friday as the United States won its heat in the 4x400m mixed relay, the first heat on the track at the meeting.
The USA won the event at its inception in Doha three years ago but failed to live up to their favorites at the Olympics and finished third.
Friday’s US team of Elija Godwin, Kennedy Simon and Vernon Norwood had to work hard to get past an impressive Dutch quartet but finished strongly, winning heat one. Olympic champion Poland had to gain ground on the last stage to secure the third automatic qualification spot.
The final is the culmination of the evening session, where the USA are expected to add 36-year-old Allyson Felix to their team as she seeks to add to her bulging medal tally at her 10th World Championships before retiring this year.
The Dominican Republic, silver medalists in Tokyo, won heat two, with Ireland taking a surprise second place ahead of Jamaica, who took third automatic place.