By The United States survived a scare to move safely into the final of the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Championships where it will hope to avoid another of the calamitous displays that have dogged it in the event over the last 20 years.
Defending champion Canada, however, failed to make it through from its semifinal on Friday.
In the women’s event another showdown between the U.S. and Jamaica, who have shared the last nine world titles, looks likely after both stormed through as heat winners.
Given their extraordinary depth and quality, the U.S. men have a woeful recent record in the event.
They have not won an Olympic final since 2000 and have just one gold from the last seven World Championships amid a series of fumbles and disqualifications.
On Friday they lined up Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Brandon Carnes and JT Smith – with individual champion Noah Lyles, one of three Americans going in the 200m final later on Friday – set to slot in for Saturday’s final.
They had a scare with the last handover but Smith clutched the baton at the third attempt and just held off fast-finishing Jamaican Rohan Watson to win the heat in an impressive 37.67 seconds.
Jamaica and a slick Japan quartet followed them through.
“We got the big Q for tomorrow so that was the goal,” said Coleman. “We’re not worried about anybody else. If we get the stick around we’ll be hard to beat.
“Definitely we want to get gold but you should all be on record watch, for sure.”
Olympic champion Italy, with Tokyo individual gold medallist Lamont Marcell Jacobs running a barnstorming second leg, was impressive winner of the second heat in 37.65.
South Africa finished second, with Britain overhauling Canada on the last leg for the third automatic qualifying spot as the holders failed to make the final.
In the women’s event Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shashalee Forbes and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – three of whom won Olympic gold in Tokyo – brought Jamaica home miles clear in the first heat in 41.70.
The U.S. was similarly impressive in winning the second in 41.59, with Ivory Coast setting an African record 41.90 and Italy a national record of 42.14 to join them in the final.
Sha’Carrie Richardson of the U.S. and Jamaican Shericka Jackson, first and second in the individual 100m, should both come into their teams for Saturday’s final after going head to head again in the 200 final later on Friday.
