Silent on the individual sprint events, the Americans managed the feat of dethroning the Jamaican Olympic and world champions, imperial since the start of the competition, by four hundredths.
Conversely, the American torchbearers, in the order Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Elijah Hall and Marvin Bracy, saw the Canada of Andre de Grasse - recently affected by the Covid-19 - arise and deprive them of gold and 100% on short sprint races.
Authors of a hat-trick in the 100m - as at the Tokyo Olympics a year ago but in a different order - and a double in the 200m, the Caribbean rockets established themselves as the favorites in the women's 4x100m.
American Twanisha Terry, in the foreground, leads Jamaican Shericka Jackson on the line in the 4x100m relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, United States, on July 23, 2022 Jewel SAMAD AFP
But the Jamaican quartet made up of Kemba Nelson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, queen of the 100m in Eugene, and Shericka Jackson, she crowned in the 200m, paid for some approximate handovers.
And it was the US relay made up of Melissa Jefferson, Abby Steiner, Jenna Prandini and Twanisha Terry who narrowly won (41.14 against 41.18) in an electric atmosphere.
"Show the World"
"We weren't expected today (Saturday). I'm proud that we succeeded. With my teammates, we have great confidence in ourselves and I knew we were going to show the world what we are capable of", says Jefferson.
"It's the most fun race of my life, continues Steiner. Do you hear my voice? I've never shouted so loudly during a race. The magic of Hayward (the Eugene stadium, editor's note), this does not is not a legend."
In the 100m and 200m, the American sprinters had finished in fifth position at best during these first World Athletics Championships on American soil in history.
In the individual short sprint, the Americans did even better than the Jamaicans, with two hat-tricks in the 100m and 200m.
In order, Fred Kerley-Marvin Bracy-Trayvon Bromell in the queen race, and Noah Lyles-Kenny Bednarek-Erriyon Knighton on the half-lap.
Canadian Andre De Grasse crosses the finish line of the men's 4x100m relay final of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, United States, on July 23, 2022 Jewel SAMAD AFP
So much so that the gold in the men's 4x100m seemed to reach out to them.
Until the 300 meters, the United States was indeed in the lead.
But a laborious last handover between Hall and Bracy, and a solid home straight from De Grasse, thwarted American plans.
For seven hundredths (37.55 against 37.48), Lyles and his friends gave up gold to the Canadians.
"Spoil the Party"
"Of course we wanted the gold. We have a really good team but we didn't show our best face. But we won the silver and I'm happy about it", appreciates nevertheless the very fresh world champion of the 200m.
"We did it with the guys I grew up with in sport. There are no words," says Brendon Rodney, third torchbearer after Aaron Brown and Jerome Blake, and before De Grasse.
"We talked so many times about this moment, so longed for the gold medal. It's good to have arrived there, rejoices De Grasse. We hope to do even better in the future."
"It's nice to spoil the party for them," smiles the reigning Olympic champion of the half-lap.
Andre De Grasse congratulated by his teammates after the victory of the Canadian relay in the 4x100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, United States, July 23, 2022 Ben Stansall AFP
Bronze went to Germany (42.03) on the women's side and Great Britain on the men's side (37.83).
With silver in the relay, Fraser-Pryce inscribed her name a little higher in the pantheon of athletics: with now 14 world medals (including ten gold), she joins two of her illustrious compatriots, Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey .
Only the American icon Allyson Felix on the verge of retirement is ahead of the Caribbean trio with 19 world awards.
And probably twenty within 24 hours, after the women's 4x400m final.
© 2022 AFP