Notes from USA vs. the World

• TWEET
• SHARE
• SHARE

Lots of action at Penn Relays today — including Penn's first championship in 7 years — but the marquee events were the men's and women's 4x100 USA vs. the World relays, which did not disappoint.

The ladies went first, and it was USA's top team in Red that came away with the win. Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix, Marshevet Myers and Carmelita Jeter finished in 42.28, a Penn Relays record, ahead of USA Blue and the Jamaican team featuring Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

And though the men's 4x100 didn't feature the World Fastest Man, Usain Bolt, this year, the Jamaicans did not relinquish their title, as Asafa Powell — who took the opening leg instead of his usual anchor — led the fan favorite team to a 38.33 first-place finish. They were 0.43 seconds off of last year's Relays record.

Powell joked in the post game press conference that when he heard BMW was sponsoring the race, he was excited thinking he might win a car. "It was only a watch, but I felt very good, and I did my best," he said.

The US Men's teams finished second and third. The Red team, comprised of Walter Dix, Wallace Spearmon, Trell Krimmons and Mike Rodgers \ was 0.1 seconds behind team Jamaica. The Americans said they were hampered by poor handoffs, due to a lack of practice time, which kept them out of reach of the Jamaican sprinters.

Making his return to Penn Relays this year was Justin Gatlin, the 2004 olympic gold medal winner in Athens in the 100. Gatlin served a four-year ban from track after testing positive for a banned substance in 2006. Gatlin has repeatedly denied knowingly taking any banned substances, and did so again Saturday when pressed on the matter at the Relays.

"He's back, he's done his time," Powell said. "I look at him as a competitor."

Videos: Here's some footage from the US Press conferences. First is Mike Rodgers, Shawn Crawford and Ivory Williams for the USA Men, followed by Justin Gatlin.