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Athletics

GB and US 4x100m teams crash out in heats

21/08/2008

The Great Britain and USA 4x100m men's relay teams have failed to progress to the final after both messed up during their handing over of batons.

Defending champions Great Britain were knocked out after the inexperienced Craig Pickering set-off to early and the handover by Marlon Devonish took place outside the designated area.

"I'm so disappointed in myself - I'm sorry," said Pickering. "I feel like I've let the team down and the country down. Unfortunately for the next four years I am going to be remembered as the guy who messed up.

"It's not been a great Olympics for me, and it's a shame because I think we've got a really good team - especially with the US going out."

In the wet conditions, world champion Tyson Gay failed to hold on to the baton in the last changeover for the Americans as they also crashed out.

The American women suffered a similar fate as Torri Edwards and Lauren Williams failed to get their baton changeover right and they also went out in the heat stages. But it was better news for the British women as their 4x100m team safely made it to the next round.