Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

The United States’ mixed 4×400-meter relay team set a world record in the first round of the event Friday at the Paris Olympics.

The quartet of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown won their heat in the record time of 3:07.41. They shattered the previous mark of 3:08.80, set by an American team at the 2023 World Championships in Bucharest.

Little, running the second leg, built a big lead, which the Americans didn’t surrender the rest of the race.

“I’ve gotten quite a few practices in over the last few days and we’ve just gotten better,” Little said. “We’ve got great chemistry.”

By the time Brown crossed the finish line, the U.S. had won by more than 40 meters, but the pace surprised even the runners. Finishing behind the Americans were France (3:10.6), Belgium (3:10.74), Jamaica (3:11.06) and Poland (3:11.43), all of whom advanced to the final from the field of eight teams.

“I knew we was up there,” said Deadmon, who ran the third leg. “I passed it off to Kaylyn and she brought it home and it said ‘world record’ and I was like, ‘Oh wow. That’s crazy.'”

The event final is set for Saturday night.

–Field Level Media