Five-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson began his global farewell tour in Philadelphia on Saturday by anchoring a 4x400m relay victory at the Penn Relays in his final US race.
Taking the baton a step behind Jamaican anchorman Michael Blackwood, Johnson stayed on his shoulder until surging ahead at the start of the final turn and pulling away down the final straight to complete his last US lap in 44 seconds.
Leonard Byrd, 400m Sydney Olympic hurdles champion Angelo Taylor, Jerome Young and Johnson won in 2 mins, 58.60 secs at Franklin Field.
"It felt great," Johnson said. "It was fun. It all worked out great. It was a great moment. It's exciting."
Reigning Olympic champions Maurice Greene and Marion Jones also anchored relay victories as US athletes dominated "US versus the World" elite events.
AFP