Canadian women’s 4x400m team upgraded to Commonwealth gold

The final event of the 2022 Commonwealth Games from Birmingham, the women’s 4x400m, carried all the drama. England’s Jessie Knight beat Canada’s Kyra Constantine to the line by one-thousandth of a second, but Team England was later disqualified for a lane infringement on the first changeover, with Canada upgraded to gold.

This was Canada’s first gold medal in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Commonwealth Games in 36 years. The contingent of Constantine, Natassha McDonald, Micha Powell and Aiyanna Stiverne got their redemption after two back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Championships.

The Canadian team sat in the bronze medal position when Powell handed the baton off to Constantine for the anchor leg. Constantine tracked down Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, who sat in second, and started to make up ground on Knight. Constantine and Knight went head-to-head over the final 100m, with Knight lunging at the line to win.

WHAT A FINISH! ?

England was initially awarded gold over Canada in the women's 4x400m relay but has been disqualified for a possible lane infringement

Canada has been awarded gold but England have lodged an appeal pic.twitter.com/3NGZ6hYNqS

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 7, 2022

Victoria Ohuruogu, Jodie Williams and Ama Pipi celebrated with Knight and the hometown crowd at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, believing England had clinched their eighth athletics gold of this Games and their first 4x400m gold in three decades.

However, upon review, the judges spotted that Williams’ foot had strayed over the lane on the first changeover with Ohuruogu, which resulted in the team’s disqualification.

I minor infringement by Jodie Williams, I suppose it doesn't matter how minor the infringement is, Rules are rules aren't they Sir Keir pic.twitter.com/fntLGOy5bA

— TimForAlI ???? (@timmyvoe) August 7, 2022

Canada was promoted to gold, while Jamaica took silver and Scotland took bronze.

Team Canada wrapped up Athletics at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with four gold, one silver and two bronze medals.