U.S. Women stun with 4×100 relay world championships win

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Twanisha Terry, Abby Steiner, Melissa Jefferson and Jenna Prandini of Team United States celebrate after winning gold in the Women's 4x100m Relay Final during the eighteenth edition of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States on July 23, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s relay team pulled off a stunning upset over Jamaica, clinching gold in the 4×100 relay at the world championships Saturday.

The team, which featured Melissa Jefferson, Abby Steiner, Jenna Prandini and Twanisha Terry, finished with a winning time of 41.14.

Terry held off 200m world champion Shericka Jackson down the stretch to edge out Jamaica for a thrilling .04-second victory.

Jamaica’s lineup boasted big names, including Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kemba Nelson and Elaine Thompson-Herah.

While Jamaica held the speed advantage heading into Saturday’s event, the U.S. was in sync.

“You can have the fastest runner, but if there’s no chemistry and there’s no trust, and the baton isn’t moving through the exchange, you aren’t going to produce that fast of a time,” Terry said.

Saturday’s victory marks the U.S.’ first 4×100 relay victory since 2017.