RIO DE JANEIRO — The United States was given an extra shot to qualify for the final of the 4x100 after the team successfully protested that Allyson Felix had been bumped just ahead of a botched handover.
The IAAF said the U.S. team would be allowed to run on their own in the evening session at 8 p.m. and try to qualify on time.
The U.S. team crossed the line well behind all other teams in their relay after Felix picked up the baton and handed it over to English Gardner. Replays showed how Felix lost balance just before the handover.
“I got bumped coming into the exchange zone and it completely threw me off balance,” said Felix. “I tried to hold it together to get to English. Maybe if I had one more step I could’ve, but I was falling.”
..... - Newsday