US men set new world record in distance medley relay in Bahamas meet

NASSAU, Bahamas _ The U.S. men’s team set a world record in the distance medley relay at IAAF’s World Relays meet on Sunday in the Bahamas.

Kyle Merber, Brycen Spratling, Brandon Johnson and Ben Blankenship set a time of 9 minutes, 15.50 seconds, eclipsing Kenya’s run of 9:15.56 in 2006.

Kenya was second in Sunday’s race, 1.7 seconds behind.

The distance medley relay is composed of legs of 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 metres for a total of 10 laps, or 4,000 metres.

The Americans won an extra $50,000 for setting the record.

Usain Bolt did not run Sunday’s 4×200 metre relay final won by the Jamaicans in 1:20.97. The U.S. team was disqualified after problems with the baton exchange.

Bolt and his teammates were second to the U.S. in Saturday’s 4×100 final.

(AP)