Bailey, Holmes part of USA relay qualification for Paris Olympics

NASSAU, Bahamas – Racing at the World Relays this weekend, Arkansas alum Chris Bailey and Alexis Holmes both assisted Team USA in securing qualification for the Paris Olympic Games in the men’s and women’s 4 x 400m relays.

Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville, split 49.63 on the anchor leg of the women’s 4 x 400m relay as the United States produced a world-leading time of 3:21.70 to finish well ahead of runner-up Poland (3:24.71) and Canada (3:25.17) to claim the $40,000 first-place prize.

The first three legs of Team USA included Quanera Hayes (51.16), Gabby Thomas (49.58), and Bailey Lear (51.33).

Bailey split 44.26 seconds on the third leg of the United States men’s 4 x 400m relay as they won the first heat in the second round with a time of 2:59.95 over India (3:03.23) and Mexico (3:03.47).

The US men’s relay also included Jacory Patterson (45.54), Champion Allison (44.79), and Bryce Deadmon (45.36). On Saturday, in the first round, the order went Patterson, Bailey, Allison, and Deadmon. Bailey supplied a 44.66 split on the second leg, but the US squad was disqualified due to an infraction.

While Team USA was denied a place in Sunday’s final of the men’s 4 x 400m relay, they were still able to qualify for Paris with a victory in the second round.

A total of 14 countries were able to qualify in each of the five relay events held at the World Relays.

Team USA won each of the four finals they advanced. In addition to the women’s 4 x 400m relay, the United States won the women’s 4 x 100m in a Championship record of 41.85, the men’s 4 x 100m in a world-leading 37.40, and the mixed relay in a Championship record of 3:10.73.