US women set new world record en-route to 4X100 relay gold

 LONDON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The USA women's 4X100 meters quartet smashed the world record as they won the gold medal in the Olympic Stadium on Friday night.

The US quarter of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight¹ and Carmelita Jeter shattered the previous record of 41.37, which had been set by the German Democratic Republic in 1985, to establish a new time of 40.82, over half a second faster.

It is the second World record to be established on the track in these Olympic Games and comes a day after David Rudisha broke the 800 meter record on Thursday.

Jamaica finished second, while Ukraine won a very creditable Bronze medal.

The race had always been expected to be fast with America fielding a team led out by 100 meters gold medalist Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce and including, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell Brown and Kerron Stewart.

Fraser-Pryce may have been Olympic 100 meters champion, but she was always training Madison, who flew out of the blocks and handed over a lead to Felix. The new 200 meter gold medalist is having a fantastic Games and widened the lead. Knight held the gap and Jeter tore down the final straight raising the baton² in triumph as she crossed the line.

The DDR's record had lasted for 27 years and given what is now known about the training 'methods' of former East German athletes to break it is an incredible achievement, to break it by over half a second is just incredible.

1 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

2 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。