Olympic Track and Field 2016: Women's 4x100m Relay Winners, Times and Results

The United States women's 4x100-meter relay team encountered a scare when it dropped the baton in qualifying heats Thursday, but a successful appeal opened the door for the Red, White and Blue to defend its gold medal Friday evening. 

Running out of Lane No. 1, an American side comprised of Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie blazed past the competition and bolted to the top spot on the podium with a time of 41.01 seconds four years after the U.S. set a world record in London. 

Jamaica, anchored by 100-meter legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, took home silver, while Great Britain secured bronze. 

NBC Olympics on Twitter relayed a snapshot that depicted how dominant the U.S. was: 

Here's a look at the final standings and official times from Friday's final: 

Place	Country	Time (Seconds)
Gold	United States	41.01
Silver	Jamaica	41.36
Bronze	Great Britain	41.77
4	Germany	42.10
5	Trinidad and Tobago	42.12
6	Ukraine	42.36
7	Canada	43.15
8	Nigeria	43.21

And here's an overview of the updated medal count, which continues to feature the United States in the top spot, with Great Britain and China competing for the No. 2 position: 

It was a historic effort for the United States, and two facts encapsulated just how dominant the U.S. has been on the track. 

Not only did Felix become the first woman to ever win five gold medals in track and field, per ESPN Stats & Info, but the United States captured its 11th gold medal overall in the event. Only 21 gold medals have been handed out in the 4x100-meter relay.

Bartoletta flew out of the starting blocks and passed the baton to Felix with Jamaica applying pressure, but once Felix was able to hit top speed and find Gardner, it was clear the U.S. was in position to take home gold once again. 

Then, when it came time for Bowie—who won silver in the 100-meter dash and bronze in the 200-meter dash—to take on Fraser-Pryce, the 25-year-old made a statement as she stretched the United States' lead to more than three-tenths of a second before she crossed the finish line for gold. 

The U.S. has now won six of the last nine gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay, which means there should be no doubt regarding who the favorite will be in the years to come. 

Post-Race Reaction

"This gold medal tonight just completed my set," Bowie said, per the Olympic News Service. "I wanted to leave with three medals."

"I'm extremely happy," Bartoletta added, according to the Olympic News Service. "The journey to this point has been tumultuous. It's special."

"Wonderful experience," 100-meter dash champion Elaine Thompson of Jamaica said, per the Olympic News Service. "My first Olympics. Two golds, a silver, I can't complain."