RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — All by themselves on the massive track, the four U.S. women took their positions in Lane 2.
Tianna Bartoletta kneeled into the blocks and waited for the starter's pistol. It sounded and away she went — alone — in a first-of-its-kind Olympic relay race against the clock.
The Americans won that contest Thursday night to earn their spot in the final eight of the 4x100.
As is the case with so many relays the U.S. has run over the years, this was anything but routine.
"Our coach told us before we went out there, 'It's just like practice, just the whole world will be watching,'" said English Gardner.