BEIJING, CHINA -- With Drake Relays alumni Allyson Felix and Jeremy Wariner running legs, Team USA won both the men's and women's 4x400-meter relays during Olympic track and field competition Saturday night at National Stadium.

Felix, who had earlier earned a silver medal in the women's 200, ran the second leg on the women's 4x400 relay which won in 3 minutes 18.54 seconds, the fastest time in the world since 1993.

"We wanted it to end on a high note," said Felix, who ran at the 2006 Drake Relays. "We've had our ups and downs. We came out with a new attitude tonight - men and women - and it worked out."

The men's race was never in doubt with Wariner, a 2006 Drake Relays champion, blazing a 43.16 anchor leg to allow Team USA to set an Olympic record with a 2:55.39 clocking.

400-meter gold medalist LaShawn Merritt opened with a 44.35 leg, and at the break, 400 hurdles gold medalist Angelo Taylor had gapped the field by seven meters. After a 43.70 leg by Taylor, 400 bronze medalist David Neville added to the U.S. lead and clocked 44.16 in handing off to Wariner.

The previous mark of 2:55.74 was set by Americans Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson and Steve Lewis in 1992, and was a world record at the time it was set. The Bahamas were a distant second in 2:58.03 and Russia was third in 2:58.06.

"This is great," said Wariner, who won a gold medal in the 400 in 2004 and a silver medal on Thursday. "Coming into the relay, we all came together and wanted to run as a team. We all ran our hardest and ended up getting an Olympic record. A lot of things happened in this Olympics that we weren't expecting. We use that to build on.

"This was a great way to finish the Olympics. It could have been a World record with a close race, but we all ran comfortable out there."

Drake Relays alum Chaunte Howard, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, finished sixth in the women's high jump in her second trip to the Olympic Games.

She recorded a season best mark of 6 feet 6.25 inches on her third attempt. Three tries at 6-7 were unsuccessful. Tia Hellebaut of Belgium won the event, clearing 6-8.75 on her first attempt.

"I think that there's more to the Olympics than just winning medals," said Howard. "I think it's about friendship, working hard and doing your best. That's what I came out here to do today."

Two-time Drake Relays champion Bernard Lagat placed ninth in the men's 5,000-meter final in 13:26.89.

"They ran a tough race today," said Lagat. "My body didn't respond. I went there with one mindset. I wanted to stay up with the leaders. But I couldn't go. I got slower and slower. I developed a virus infection in my throat. During the race, my throat was burning like crazy."