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USA win Athletics World Cup after dominant two days in London

Poland finish second; GB & NI claim third

By Paul Prenderville at the London Stadium

Last Updated: 16/07/18 8:50am

Take a look at the best of the action from the Athletics World Cup at the London Stadium.

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Take a look at the best of the action from the Athletics World Cup at the London Stadium.
Take a look at the best of the action from the Athletics World Cup at the London Stadium.

The USA confirmed their position at the head of track and field by winning the Athletics World Cup as two days of competition - featuring 34 events and eight nations - reached their conclusion at London Stadium on Sunday.

Despite a squad without some of its star names, the Americans showcased their remarkable depth as they ran away with the competition at London's Olympic Stadium.

Having started Sunday with a 24-point lead over France, USA's Sunday superstars put on a show with Sam Hendricks starring in the pole vault while Vashti Cunningham took the spoils in a high-class women's high jump competition.

It all added up to the States ending the two days 57 points clear of Poland, while the French fell away and were unable to match the World Cup feats of their football team earlier in the day.

Hendricks set the tone early on, returning to the same venue where he won his maiden pole vault world title last year to beat out Raphael Holzdeppe and Axel Chapelle in a strong field - he didn't need to go as far as his 5.95m winning vault 12 months ago this time - a 5.83m clearance was enough to get the job done.

Shannon Hylton brough the GB & NI women home for victory in the 4x100m relay
Shannon Hylton brough the GB & NI women home for victory in the 4x100m relay

Athletics World Cup - Final Standings

Pos Nation Points
.1. USA 219
.2. Poland 162
.3. Great Britain & NI 155
.4. Jamaica 153
.5. France 146
.6. Germany 137
.7. South Africa 135
.8. China 81

Hendricks' win was followed moments later by Paul Dedewo who ran a lifetime best to claim the 400m in 44.48secs, a full second clear of the field

One of the major match-ups was between USA's Vashti Cunningham and Morgan Lake and the pair found themselves clear of the field early on. In the end, the American edged it with a jump of 1.96m leaving Lake to look on.

Moments earlier, the GB women's 4x100m squad stormed to a brilliant first place - the hosts' only victory.

As ever at a major athletics competition all eyes are drawn to the 100m and in the absence of the world-leading Noah Lyles, it was a rare event where USA fell short as Tyquendo Tracey of Jamaica put a stop to their Sunday dominance, winning in a time of 10.03secs from Kendal Williams. Britain's Ojie Edoburun came in fourth.

Bradshaw impressed but USA in charge on day one

Report from the first day of competition as Lorraine Ugen and Holly Bradshaw win for GB

After the women carried British hopes on day one, home success in Stratford came in the shape of the women's sprint relay team who won the penultimate track race of the event with a barnstorming performance to huge cheers, beating Jamaica and China who took a surprise third.

The American quartet pulled up mid-race but whether they would have matched Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Shannon Hylton is questionable - the GB squad building on a brilliant silver at the World Championships in the same stadium last year.

Dai Greene put in another impressive display as he looks to turn a corner after injury problems
Dai Greene put in another impressive display as he looks to turn a corner after injury problems

Dai Greene returned to the big stage last week with victory in the British Championships and he followed up with another strong showing as he works his way back to the top after a string of injury setbacks.

Clocking 49.48secs, he came a creditable third in the 400m hurdles, with American Kenny Selmon winning another maximum eight-point haul for the Americans.

Beth Dobbin's rapid education continued with a hugely impressive third place in the 200m at her first ever major career meeting - she trailed in behind Jamaica's Shericka Jackson in first and America's Jenna Prandini, while Adelle Tracey came second after a creditable run in the women's 800m.

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Athletics World Cup - Points system

  • 1st Place - 8pts

    2nd Place - 7pts

  • 5th Place - 4pts

    6th Place - 3pts

  • 3rd Place - 6pts

    4th Place - 5pts

  • 7th Place - 2pts

    8th Place - 1pts

The timing of the event, just a couple of weeks before the European Championship, meant that athletes carrying injuries, bumps, bruises and niggles were never going to risk themselves.

However, healthy crowds, the one-race nature of each event and international head-to-head competition suggest a format that captured the imagination.

Also See:

  • Bradshaw impresses as USA lead
  • Live on Sky Sports
USA eased to victory in the men's 4x400m relay at the Athletics World Cup.

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USA eased to victory in the men's 4x400m relay at the Athletics World Cup.
USA eased to victory in the men's 4x400m relay at the Athletics World Cup.

A year that features no World Championship or Olympic Games represents a natural break in the cycle for the cream of the sport. China and Germany sent inexperienced squads while Great Britain and Northern Ireland were without a few of their top names.

Not too much was known about Team USA as James Ellington noted: "We find out more about them when they travel to compete and wear the vest. Their showing in London hinted at a couple of stars of the future, perhaps even the present and no sign of their athletics prowess diminishing."

Related Stories

Holly Bradshaw claimed an impressive early victory for GB & NI at the Athletics World Cup

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Axel Chapelle is one of the names our experts have picked out who could have a starring role in one of the high-profile events

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Vashti Cunningham is one of the stars of US athletics and will be in action at the Athletics World Cup

Athletics World Cup: Stars to watch

Long jump superstar Luvo Manyonga is among the star names in action at the Athletics World Cup this week

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