USA 4x100-Meter Relay Fails To Finish Olympic Final

Aug. 27, 2004

Athens, Greece (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami senior Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.) will have to wait until the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to win her first Olympic gold medal.

Williams, running the third leg of the United States’ 4×100-meter relay, was unable to receive the baton from Marion Jones within the required 20-meter handoff zone leading to an automatic disqualification.

Jamaica won the gold medal in a time of 41.73 seconds with Russia taking the silver medal at 42.27 seconds and France, the reigning World Champion, capturing the bronze at 42.54 seconds.

Williams and the United States entered the final as the favorite having posted the fourth-fastest time in history (41.67) in winning their semifinal heat on Thursday.

Regardless of the relay outcome, Williams had a tremendous Olympic debut winning the silver medal in the 100-meters last weekend. Williams, who will not turn 21 until September, is the youngest sprinter in 32 years to medal in the 100-meters at the Olympic Games.