U.S. quartet go fastest without Noah Lyles to make 4x100m men’s relay final - Jamaica out
The United States are on a mission in the athletics at Paris 2024 and made a statement when reaching the men’s 4x100m relay final with the fastest time in the heats.
With 100m champion Noah Lyles sitting out ahead of Thursday night’s 200m final, the U.S. quartet of Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King and Courtney Lindsey won the first heat with a time of 37.47.
Looking to make amends for missing out on the Tokyo 2020 final three years ago, the U.S. appear primed to back up the gold they won at the World Championships last year, while the women's relay team were also fastest in their Olympics heat earlier on Thursday.
South Africa produced a stunning relay to come second (37.94) in the first heat, while Great Britain - who finished fourth in the worlds last year - also made the final after finishing third with a 38.04.
Reigning Olympic champions Italy also raced in a stacked first heat, and their time of 38.07 was only enough to finish fifth as they faced a nervy wait to see if they would go through.
In the second heat, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists the People’s Republic of China finished first (38.24) ahead of hosts France (38.34) and Canada (38.39), who all qualified.
The two next fastest nations outside of the top three in each heat also qualified, with Japan and Italy doing enough to complete the line-up, while 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson was left disappointed as Jamaica came fifth in the second heat and were unable to qualify.
The men’s 4x100m relay final takes place at 19:45 local time in Paris, just 15 minutes after the women’s 4x100m relay final starts.