The USA men’s 4x400m relay team brought the curtain down on the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland Sunday with a new world record that erase the old mark of 3:02.83, established by the Americans in 1999.
The quartet of Kyle Clemons, David Verburg, Kind Butler, and Calvin Smith, in that order posted 3mins, 02.13secs to lead home Great Britain in 3:03.49 and Jamaica in a national indoor record of 3:03.69. In addition to the prize money for victory, the team will secure a US$50,000 world record bonus offered by the IAAF
In 2006, a US team ran 3:01.96, but the time could not be ratified as a world indoor record because no drug testing took place.
This is what each team member had to say after the race:
David Verburg: “We’ve all run rounds and 4x4s in college so we were good there. For me, personally, I was a little tired after running yesterday and competing in the final. I had to come back and mentally prepare myself for today, so I could be there for my team. It’s not about yourself; it’s about your team and your country.”
Kyle Clemons: “It’s been such a life-changing experience. I had a lot of confidence after yesterday and I was tired but I didn’t want to let my brothers down. Mind over matter and we got it done.”
Kind Butler: “I was running for my life. I couldn’t let these guys down. David gave it to me in such a good place. I kind of blacked out in the race, I think. I told these guys before we raced that I was giving them my heart.”
Calvin Smith: “They put me in front so I had to stay in front. I knew I had to take it out fast and have some space between me and the Brits and Jamaicans. I saw the clock and saw it was 3:0-something but someone was blocking it and I couldn’t see. I was just going for it. When I looked up, Kyle was running toward me saying, ‘we did it!’ and I’m just so proud of our team.”