Olympics: US women’s relay squad to re-run heat solo

USA's Allyson Felix attempts to hand the baton to USA's English Gardner in the Women's 4 x 100m Relay Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro

The United States’ women’s 4x100m relay team will get a chance to qualify for the Olympic final after winning the right to re-run their heat in Rio on Thursday.

The US quartet was facing a sensational disqualification after a dropped baton changeover involving Allyson Felix and English Gardner.

However USA Track and Field appealed after it emerged a Brazilian runner had bumped Felix as she approached for the changeover.

After studying footage of the incident, the race referee agreed and handed the Americans a reprieve.

But in a bizarre twist, the US team will be required to race against the clock from the same lane with no other teams taking part.

“The referee examined the video of the race and agreed that the US runner was obstructed at the second exchange,” a statement said.

“The US team will have a re-run alone, in the same lane, this evening at 8pm (2300 GMT) to attempt to qualify by time,” it added.