The final began with Andrzej Zieliński out fast, making up the stagger on American substitute Paul Drayton on his outside.

The Poles exchanged smoothly and their 4th place runner from the finals Wieslaw Maniak held a foot advantage on (plus the stagger) on Gerry Ashworth.

Hayes making up the gap halfway down the straightaway then pulled away to a clear American victory and new world record.

The United States, Poland, France, Jamaica, and the Soviet Union all broke it, with the U.S. also breaking the world record.

The United States' Bob Hayes ran the final 100m of the relay in 8.6 seconds, passing three teams and bringing the U.S. from 4th to 1st place.