Jamaica won the showcase 4x200 metres relay without Usain Bolt as their American rivals dropped the baton at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.
Nickel Ashmeade, Rasheed Dwyer, Jason Livermore and Warren Weir survived a shaky second exchange baton pass to claim the feature race in 1:20.97 on Sunday.
But, at least, the Jamaicans, in winning their first race of the two-day meeting, got the baton around.
The Americans were not so fortunate. A muffed passed between Isiah Young and Curtis Mitchell on the second ex-change sent the baton flying, leading to their disqualification.
Bolt did not run as a precaution, his manager said, after the world’s fastest man felt tightness in his hamstring warming up.
Second place went to France and Germany claimed third.
Kyle Merber, Brycen Sprat-ling, Brandon Johnson and Ben Blankenship combined for a world record 9:15.50 for the US in the infrequently held men’s distance medley, which consists of legs of 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 metres.
Kenya took second and Australia were third.