MOSCOW, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian athletes stormed home on Friday to win the women's 4x100 meters relay and take Russia's 17th gold at the Beijing Olympics.
The Russian team of Yevgeniya Polyakova, Alexandra Fedoriva, Yulia Gushchina and Yulia Chermoshanskaya were the surprise winners in a time of 42.31 seconds making the most of poor baton changeovers by the Jamaican and British teams.
The Russians were followed to the tape by the quartet from Belgium who crossed the finishing line in a time of 42.54 seconds, with the Nigerian team taking bronze in 43.04 seconds.
With two days of Olympic competition left Russia is lying in 4th place in the medal table with 17 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals, while China is in the lead boasting 47 gold, 16 silver and 25 bronze medals.
