Despite a valiant effort from the injured Isaiah Harris, USA failed to qualify for the final of the 4x400m relay at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
On the final lap of the anchor leg, with around 150m to run, Harris - who finished seventh in the 800m final on Saturday - pulled a muscle. USA were in second at the time, just behind Belgium.
Though he was clearly injured, Harris continued to run and finished the race in second place ahead of Sweden and Nigeria.
Only the winner of each heat qualified automatically for the final along with the next three fastest times. The US placed eighth overall, one spot behind Ireland.
Heroic Isaiah Harris effort in 4x400m relay
😱 Le courage d'Isaiah Harris !
🇺🇸 Cruelle série du 4x400 m avec le dernier relayeur américain qui se blesse mais termine la course pour tenter de qualifier son équipe🙏
💻 Suivez les #WorldIndoorChamps en 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧 sur https://t.co/63xdTVLhtA et https://t.co/XpKsS21tPb. pic.twitter.com/R00XyVBfGk— FFAthlétisme (@FFAthletisme) March 20, 2022
The Irish team of Cillian Greene, Cathal Crosbie, Brian Gregan and Chris O'Donnell finished third in their heat, and seventh overall, just one place and 0.33 outside the qualifying places. Their time of 3:08.63 is a new national record, breaking the 18-year-old mark of 3:08.83.
The Irish women's team of Sophie Becker, Roisin Harrison, Sharlene Mawdsley and Phil Healy also narrowly missed out on qualification as they finished third in their heat and set a new national record of 3:30.97.
Holy crap. Isaiah Harris just ran one of the most heroic anchor legs I've ever seen in the 4x400 prelims.
Looked to have pulled a muscle with 150 meters to go. Gutted out final lap and held on for 2nd to give his US teammates a shot to make the final. pic.twitter.com/Kqa3wd1tA1
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) March 20, 2022
See Also: Sarah Lavin 'Immensely Proud' After Finishing Seventh In World Final
