“I Am Heartbroken”: After Disappointing Millions Of Americans With Disqualification, US Track Athletes Issues Public Apology

This year in the 2023 World Athletics Championships has been amazing for American fans. A host of American track stars have dominated multiple disciplines in Budapest. Be it Noah Lyles’ three gold medals or Sha’Carri Richardson besting her Jamaican rival, Shericka Jackson, to win gold. In fact, this year was the first time since 2007 that both U.S. men’s and women’s team also swept their respective 4x100m relay.

However, the U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team was not so lucky. Their qualifying run during the preliminary round saw them getting disqualified and unable to run in the finals, an event which the Americans have previously dominated through the likes of Allyson Felix and Sydney McLaughlin. This disappointment led one of the relay athletes to share a heartfelt update for fans.

The U.S. 4×400 women’s team disqualified at the 2023 World Athletics Championships

The U.S. women’s 4x400m women’s team was disqualified in the preliminary rounds on Saturday. Their third and fourth runners (Quanera Hayes and Alexis Holmes respectively) were unable to complete a baton handover, which will see them not competing in the finals. Soon after their disqualification, Holmes took to her Instagram to share a heartfelt update for all her fans.

A part of her caption read, “Im overwhelmed with remorse and disappointment thinking about my teammates”. Hayes and Holmes, the last two runners, missed the baton exchange a number of times. When the Passover was successfully completed, it was deemed illegal as it was out of the legal passing zone.

Read more: Despite Salty Rivalry, Sha’Carri Richardson Finds Comfort in Jamaican Rival Shericka Jackson in an Unusual Bonding Ahead of Clash

Holmes’ Instagram caption further read, “I am heartbroken for my team.” Despite the disqualification of the 4x400m women’s relay team, the United States continued its impressive track dominance with their men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams.

U.S. relay brilliance in the 4x100m discipline

Both the U.S. men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams secured gold at the recent world championships in Budapest. The men’s team, led by superstar Noah Lyles, crossed the finish line in 37.38 seconds. They were followed by Olympic champions, Italy, with 37.62 seconds, and Jamaica, who finished third with a time of 37.76 seconds.

As for the women’s team, Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas led the way with an emphatic win that saw them clinch gold in 41.03 seconds, a record championship time. This win also saw Richardson getting the better of her Jamaican opponent, Shericka Jackson, as she won against her for the second time in the tournament.

As for the U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team and Alexis Holmes, they are bound to come back stronger from this loss. Holmes’s message on Instagram is a testament to her strong character as she takes accountability for the disappointment. Their fans will be cheering them on as they look forward to redeeming themselves in next year’s Paris Olympics.

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