Kyle Merber of the United States celebrates after winning the final of the men’s distance medley relay on day two of the IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015 at Thomas Robinson Stadium on May 3, 2015 in Nassau, Bahamas.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — 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 meters for a total of 10 laps, or 4,000 meters.
The Americans won an extra $50,000 for setting the record.
Usain Bolt did not run Sunday’s 4×200 meter 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.
