Canada earns bronze after U.S. gets DQ'd in 4x100m relay

The Canadian men's 4x100-metre relay team were on the right side of a disqualification this time.

Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse and Justyn Warner won the bronze medal at the world track and field championships Saturday after the Americans were disqualified for an illegal baton change.

• ​RESULTS: World track and field championships
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It was redemption for the Canadians, who were denied a gold medal at the Pan Am Games earlier this year after they were disqualified following two American-led protests.

Canada was also disqualified in the event at the 2012 London Olympics, costing the team a bronze medal.

The dramatic bronze in the relay capped a big day for Canada, with decathlete Damian Warner and 800-metre runner Melissa Bishop capturing silver medals.

Canada will head into the final day of competition in Beijing with seven medals, two more than its previous best of five set two years ago in Moscow.

With Justyn Warner running the anchor leg in the relay, it appeared the Canadians would have to settle for fourth with a time of 38.13 seconds when China's last runner sprinted to an unexpected third-place finish.

But officials ruled that the Americans' third baton exchange occurred outside the zone, moving the host Chinese to silver and Canada to bronze.

The result gives De Grasse, a rising sprint star from Markham, Ont., two medals at his first world championships. De Grasse also took bronze in the men's 100 metres.

"I had an amazing season," De Grasse said. "To end it like that, my last run, I'm just happy we came out with the bronze." 

Usain Bolt and the powerful Jamaicans thundered to gold in 37.36 seconds.

Rodney was a last-minute replacement on the Canadian team, running in place of an injured Gavin Smellie. Coach Glenroy Gilbert also tinkered with the order for the final, putting Brown in the starting leg, Warner as anchor, and De Grasse and Rodney in the middle two positions.

"That was Aaron's first time running first leg," De Grasse said. "To come away with the bronze medal after an hour of practice? We're just happy we got the bronze medal." 

Canada's women's 4x100m team of Crystal Emmanuel, Kimberley Hyacinthe, Isatu Fofanah and Khamica Bingham was sixth in their final in 43.05. Jamaica took gold, giving them a sweep of the men's and women's 4x100m relay and 100m golds.