MOSCOW, Russia - Former Mason track standout David Verburg helped lead the Team USA men's 4x400m relay to gold on Friday evening at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
After a disappointing silver medal in the men's 4x400m relay at the London Olympics, a young Team USA, with an average age of only 23-years-old, came together to bring Team USA back to its gold standard. Verburg ran the lead leg and brought Team USA to the exchange zone even with the field. Newly crowned 400m silver medalist Tony McQuay split 44.68 to create a small lead for the U.S. with Belgium second and Great Britain third. It was 19-year-old Arman Hall who opened a lead for Team USA on the final stretch to split 44.92. Fresh off of his World Championship title, LaShawn Merritt split an easy 44.74 to anchor the Americans home in a world-leading time of 2:58.71. This is the eighth gold medal for Team USA at the World Championships.
Video of the relay is available here.
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(Thursday evening)
MOSCOW, Russia - Former George Mason Patriot David Verburg helped the U.S. men run a world-leading time of 2:59.85 in the first round of the 4x400 relay at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships Thursday night at Luzhniki Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
James Harris (Lanett, Ala.) got Team USA off to an early lead and got the baton to David Verburg (Lynchburg, Va.) in the first position. Verburg held the lead until the final straight when Jarrin Solomon of Trinidad and Tobago pulled along side. Josh Mance (Los Angeles, Calif) bolted out of the exchange zone to gap the Trinidadians, but they once again pulled alongside Team USA on the homestretch. 19-year-old Arman Hall (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) ran one stride ahead of Deon Lendore of Trinidad through 300 meters, but coming down the homestretch, Hall opened a small lead to take the win, with Trinidad more than half a second behind in 3:00.48.
“My goal was just to get out and make the cut in," said Verburg after the race. "I wanted to get my teammates in a good position. James had a good lead off so I knew that we had two world class sprinters following up. So my my goal was to get the stick around, stay healthy and hopefully split a fast time."
The finals will take place tomorrow afternoon. For more information about the meet visit www.iaaf.org or www.usatf.org.
