Double Olympic 400m hurdles champion McLaughlin-Levrone, who impressively won the 400m flat gold at these championships earlier in the week, put in a punishing last leg timed at a rapid 47.82sec to bring the USA team home in a championship record of 3min 16.61sec.

It beat by 0.10sec the previous best set by the United States in Stuttgart in 1993.

Jamaica claimed silver in 3:19.25, with the Netherlands taking bronze in 3:20.18.

Femke Bol, fresh from retaining her 400m hurdles crown and known for her fast finishing speed, was on the anchor leg for the Dutch team.

But she had been left too much to do and could only chase down the shadows of her hurdling nemesis McLaughlin-Levrone.

Botswana’s quartet of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and the individual 400m world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi claimed a thrilling victory in the men’s 4x400m relay.

Kebinatshipi ran an impressive anchor leg, stealing the win in the final metres after running down American Rai Benjamin, the 400m hurdles gold medallist.

Botswana timed 2:57.76 to top the podium, with the US foursome taking silver 0.07sec adrift.

World 400m record holder Wayde van Niekerk ran the third leg to help South Africa to bronze.