U.S. men hold off Jamaica for Olympic gold in 4x400-meter relay

RIO DE JANEIRO - The U.S. men's 4x400-meter relay held off a late challenge by Jamaica to rebound and win gold in the event, a day after the Americans' 4x100 relay men's team was disqualified.

The U.S. team -- composed of Arman Hall, Tony McQuay, Gil Roberts and LaShawn Merritt -- posted a time of 2:57.30, 0.86 seconds ahead of Jamaica.

Bahamas clocked in at 2:58.49, edging Belgium by 0.03 seconds.

Merritt, serving as Team USA's anchor, added another medal to his career. He already has two gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and eight world championship gold medals stretching as far back as 2005.

The gold medal gives the United States a total of 31 track and field medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the highest total since the Americans won 31 in both 1952 and 1956. The most track and field medals won by the United States at a single Olympic Games was 35 at the Berlin 1932 Olympic Games.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.