CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY/AP) — Chesapeake Olympian Michael Cherry and his American teammates won gold in the 4×400 meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics.

There were no bad exchanges this time as the U.S. men won their first gold medal in a track race at the Tokyo Games with a victory in the 4×400-meter relay.

The U.S. men didn’t reach the final of the 4×100-meter relay, but the 4×400 team of Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin was never really in trouble as they completed four laps of the Olympic oval in 2 minutes, 55.70 seconds. It was a fifth gold for the U.S. men in the 4×400 since 1996.

The Netherlands took silver in a national record 2:57.18 and Botswana won bronze in 2:57.27.

This was the first-ever Olympics for the Oscar Smith High School grad.

  • Michael Cherry, of United States, starts the men’s 4×400-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
  • Michael Norman, Michael Cherry, Rai Benjamin and Bryce Deadmon of the United States, from left, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the final of the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
  • Michael Norman, Michael Cherry, Rai Benjamin of the United States, from left, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the final of the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
  • Michael Norman and Michael Cherry, center, greet Bryce Deadmon of the United States, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the final of the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
  • Michael Norman, Michael Cherry, Rai Benjamin of the United States, from left, celebrate after winning the gold medal in the final of the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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