USA had a clear lead at the handoff with Tony McQuay breaking several metres ahead of Demish Gaye for Jamaica on the far outside.

Down the backstretch Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards, Botswana's Baboloki Thebe and Britain's Delano Williams lined up, breaking away from the other teams.

Trinidad gained position on the handoff to Jarrin Solomon, who found himself only two metres back of American Kyle Clemons.

Down the backstretch, Jamaica's Martin Manley ran around Solomon and pulled to within a metre of Clemons coming off the final turn.

Behind, Jamaica's Steven Gayle pushed down the backstretch, passing Sibanda and even, for a moment, Merritt on the inside.