On the track and in the field, Team USA kept their foot on the gas to the very end and punctuated a dominant showing at the World Athletics Championships with three more medals as Sunday's final competitions wrapped up.
Missouri native Chris Nilsen earned silver in the pole vault with a successful 5.94 meter (19-5.75) clearance to trail only Mondo Duplantis, who broke his own world record yet again by soaring 6.21m (20-4.5). This is the fifth time Duplantis has established the world mark. Prior to his work in Eugene, his most recent all-time standard was a 20-4 showing in Belgrade, Serbia this past March.
The final two track races of the 2022 Championships were all about the home country, as the American squads went 2:56.17 and 3:17.79, respectively, to claim golds, ending the meet in resounding fashion. The hosts put up a total of 33 medals (13 gold, 9 silver, 11 bronze), which established a new record for hardware attained by a singular country at any World Championships.
While he didn't contest the finals race, Ohioan Trevor Bassitt was issued a gold medal for his contributions in the 4x400m preliminary round, where he anchored Team USA to the best time in the heats (2:58.96). The Bluffton product and Division II star at Ashland University split 45.29.
Of particular interest from Ohio's fan base in the women's race was Dublin's own Abby Steiner getting the call to take part in the final round. The 5th place finisher in the 200 and gold medalist in the 4x100 was stationed in the second spot, taking the stick from Talitha Diggs and handing off to Britton Wilson. Steiner split 49.99 for the Americans. Sydney McLaughlin closed the show for the squad with a remarkable 47.91 clocking.
Steiner's participation in the 4x400 remained unclear until shortly before race time, as a barrage of rumored line-ups were floating around social media in the hours preceding the contest. Ultimately it amounted to be her 57th start of 2022 and undeniably one of her best.
Hear from the victorious American 4x400 meter relay team above and review additional meet content below.
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(Image courtesy of USA Today)
