Everyone seems to be taking off faster than expected from their take-off spots. There is no time left for the women's team, the Commonwealth champions in 1998, to work on theirs. Hewitt said she was ''bitterly disappointed. We all wanted to go out there and make the final. We've kept saying, anything can happen in relays.
People drop batons.
The Australians' heat was won in 43.23seconds by the French team. The American team were careful with their changes, winning their heat comfortably in 42.92. Marion Jones, who would have been watching nervously, did not run. For the remaining rounds they will also be without two-time Olympic 100m champion Gail Devers, who injured herself in the 100m hurdles final on Wednesday. Get start lists and fast results for Athletics.