Prior to the beginning of the World Athletics Championships, Allyson Felix said the 4×400 mixed relay last Friday would be her final event.
But team officials were able to coax Felix out of her brief retirement, and she returned to Hayward Field in Eugene on Saturday for heats of the women’s 4×400 relay. The U.S. team of Talitha Diggs, Felix, Kaylin Whitney and Jayde Stepter Baynes won the first heat and led all qualifiers with a time of 3 minutes, 23.38 seconds.
Felix, running in the second leg, finished her lap with a time of 50.61, which led the U.S. team. The top-three finish resulted in an automatic qualification for the final.
The next-fastest qualifying relay teams were Great Britain, Jamaica and Belgium.
The women’s 4×400 relay final is scheduled for Sunday evening.
