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News11 Mar 2001


The final of the women's 4x400 metre relay

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Women 4x400 Final

Defending champions and world record holders Russia, maintained their winning streak clocking 3:30.00 after a toughly contested race which saw the lead change in bewildering manner.

The Russian lead-off runner Yuliva Nosova clocked 53.6, but faded dramatically in the last strides to allow Germany's Claudia Marx past with Monique Hennagan's strong run ensuring that the USA held a three metre advantage at the changeover.

But it was all change on the second leg, as a 52.1 effort from Olesva Zykina pulled Russia back into the lead, and Juliet Campbell - winner of the 200m yesterday - running the same time to bring her country right back into contention. Germany's Birgit Rockmeier also overtook Donna Howard, dropping the USA to fourth. Catherine Scott tried to maintain Jamaica's advantage but she faded dramatically (54.0 split), letting Germany's Florence Ekpo-Umoh go past and take the lead.

By the fourth leg, Shanta Ghosh was a stride ahead of the experienced Olga Kotlyarova, but a 50.7 split (the fastest of the night) helped the Russian sweep past for a well-deserved victory. Another superb run from the 400m world champion Sandie Richards (50.9) helped Jamaica move from third to second, with Richards passing Ghosh in the last few strides to win silver in 3:30.79. Germany held on for bronze with 3:31.00.

 

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