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Japan’s broadcast of the men’s 4x100m is everything that’s great about track

The Japanese broadcast of the men's 4x100m relay is everything that's great about athletics at the Olympics (photo: IAAF).

Japan's 4x100m relay

??+??+??+??=37.60 AR and Olympic 4x100m silver! #rio2016 #athletics

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The Japanese broadcast of the men’s 4x100m relay was everything that’s great about track and field at the Olympics. The commentators made the already-exciting one-lap relay even better with their vivid commentary.

RELATED: U.S. has men’s 4x100m relay appeal denied, Canada keeps bronze.

Team Japan finished second in the men’s 4x100m relay on Friday night and surely had fans at the edge of their seats as they were in the lead at one point. The anchor runner, Aska Cambridge, was side-by-side with the great Usain Bolt with 100m to go. Cambridge held on for second with Canada earning the bronze after the U.S. was disqualified.

Japan’s time of 37.60 was an area (Asian) record in the men’s 4x100m relay. They finished 0.33 seconds off of Jamaica’s time as Canada set a national record for third (37.64). Japan’s team consisted of Ryota Yamagata, Shota Iizuka, Yoshihide Kiryu and Cambridge in that order. Canada’s team was Akeem Haynes, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse.

No Japanese athlete made the men’s 100m final individually. However, the team had great handoffs in the relay which helped them run such a quick time.

As the race progressed and Japan came closer and closer to securing a medal, the commentator’s became increasingly excited. On the final exchange, it was clear that Japan was going to medal resulting in peak excitement among the Japanese announcers.

Fortunately, there’s quality footage of the entire race.

Japanese broadcast of the men’s 4x100m relay

The Japanese team also deserves a shoutout for their pink, Asics kits. Canadian Running named their uniforms one of the best at the Rio Olympics.

RELATED: Usain Bolt completes the triple-triple, Canada wins bronze in 4×100 record.

Upon first sight, it appeared that Japan may have been in jeopardy of disqualification on the anchor leg of the relay. Cambridge stepped on the line between lanes. However, if a material advantage is not gained, and there is no interference with other runners, stepping on the line on a straightaway is allowed. It’s when an athlete steps on the line on a curve that it becomes an issue.

Canadian broadcast of the men’s 4x100m relay

Hopefully we will hear more from the announcers from Japan with the penultimate day of action taking place Saturday. Tomorrow is the closing ceremony with the day being kicked off with the men’s marathon.

RELATED: Canadians react to record-setting, third-place run by 4x100m team.

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