University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Jake Bradshaw/Tennessee Athletic
Coleman, Gatlin Lead U.S. to 4x100 World Title, American Record
October 05, 2019 | Track & Field
DOHA, Qatar -- Tennessee alumni made up half of Team USA's world champion 4x100-meter relay team Saturday evening, as Christian Coleman (2014-17) and Justin Gatlin (2001-02) ran the two opening legs for the United States at the IAAF World Championships. Teaming up with Noah Lyles and Mike Rodgers, the foursome clocked a new American record time of 37.10 to win the gold medal.
Team USA's time of 37.10 also went down as the world championship meet record and the third-fastest mark ever recorded. Great Britain took the silver medal in 37.36, a new European record, while Japan's bronze medal performance of 37.43 set an Asian record.
One week prior to the relay, the VFL duo went 1-2 in the men's 100-meter dash final as Coleman claimed his first career outdoor world title and Gatlin secured silver for his ninth world championships medal. Coleman's time of 9.76 currently stands as the world lead in 2019 and moves him into sixth on the all-time list.
Coined by the Volunteer faithful as the 'Tennessee Two Step,' Coleman and Gatlin also rocked the world stage in London two years ago. Gatlin took first place and was followed closely by Coleman for silver, as both Vols took down 11-time world champion Usain Bolt in the men's 100m final.
Coleman was a three-year letterwinner for the Vols and won the Bowerman award in 2017, which honors the most outstanding athlete in collegiate track & field. A five-time national champion and 12-time All-American at Tennessee, Coleman holds all-time collegiate records in the outdoor 100m (9.82) and indoor 60m (6.45).
Gatlin remarkably captured a program-record six individual national titles in two seasons on Rocky Top, helping Tennessee to the 2001 outdoor and 2002 indoor NCAA team championships. He and Coleman stand as the only athletes in collegiate history to sweep all four short sprint titles in the same season: indoor 60m, indoor 200m, outdoor 100m and outdoor 200m.
Tennessee's ties at the 2019 World Championships conclude Sunday with the men's 4x400-meter relay final. Current sophomore Jonathan Sacoor will represent Belgium in the event, while VFL Nathan Strother (2014-18) will compete for the United States. The starting gun will fire at 2:30 p.m. ET and the relay will be nationally televised on NBC.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
VFLs make up half of the @TeamUSA World Champion 4x100m relay team!
— Tennessee Track & Field/XC (@Vol_Track) October 5, 2019
Congrats to @__coleman & Justin Gatlin on the American record 🇺🇸🥇#GBO 🍊⏱ #WorldAthleticChamps pic.twitter.com/x0bncdW57c
Team USA's time of 37.10 also went down as the world championship meet record and the third-fastest mark ever recorded. Great Britain took the silver medal in 37.36, a new European record, while Japan's bronze medal performance of 37.43 set an Asian record.
One week prior to the relay, the VFL duo went 1-2 in the men's 100-meter dash final as Coleman claimed his first career outdoor world title and Gatlin secured silver for his ninth world championships medal. Coleman's time of 9.76 currently stands as the world lead in 2019 and moves him into sixth on the all-time list.
Coined by the Volunteer faithful as the 'Tennessee Two Step,' Coleman and Gatlin also rocked the world stage in London two years ago. Gatlin took first place and was followed closely by Coleman for silver, as both Vols took down 11-time world champion Usain Bolt in the men's 100m final.
Coleman was a three-year letterwinner for the Vols and won the Bowerman award in 2017, which honors the most outstanding athlete in collegiate track & field. A five-time national champion and 12-time All-American at Tennessee, Coleman holds all-time collegiate records in the outdoor 100m (9.82) and indoor 60m (6.45).
Gatlin remarkably captured a program-record six individual national titles in two seasons on Rocky Top, helping Tennessee to the 2001 outdoor and 2002 indoor NCAA team championships. He and Coleman stand as the only athletes in collegiate history to sweep all four short sprint titles in the same season: indoor 60m, indoor 200m, outdoor 100m and outdoor 200m.
Tennessee's ties at the 2019 World Championships conclude Sunday with the men's 4x400-meter relay final. Current sophomore Jonathan Sacoor will represent Belgium in the event, while VFL Nathan Strother (2014-18) will compete for the United States. The starting gun will fire at 2:30 p.m. ET and the relay will be nationally televised on NBC.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
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