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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS ≡
A new event was the star of the 8th World Athletics Relays, held in Gaborone (BOT), the first major worldwide track & field event held in Africa. The mixed 4×100 m relay, which will be on the Olympic program in Los Angeles in 2028, had been won by Canada at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in 40.30, which was the nominal world record.
But the Canadian team of Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-Eloise Leclair, Duan Asemota and Audrey Leduc won heat one in 40.07, a respectable world-record time. The U.S. won heat two with Courtney Lindsey, Jada Mowatt, Kyree King and E’lexis Hollis in 40.36 and then Jamaica rolled out a high-quality quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton and sprinted home in 39.99, another world record and the first time under 40 seconds.
That mark lasted a day, until Sunday’s final, as the same foursome won in a rout in 39.62 for the third world record in the event. Canada was second in 40.23 and the U.S. team was third in 40.33 for the American Record.
In the Mixed 4×400 m, the U.S. won heat one with Bryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Brian Faust and Bailey Lear, with Lear coming from behind to pass Spain’s Blanca Hervas, 3:09.82 to 3:09.89. Britain was faster in heat three, winning over Kenya, 3:09.69 to 3:09.87.
The final saw Jamaica’s Deandre Watkin pass first with Deadmon third, but Peoples ran a brilliant second leg in 49.19 (!) and gave the U.S. the lead. Finals sub Jenoah McKiver – who had run with Deadmon on the 2025 Relays winner – blew away the field on the third leg with a 43.50 split and had a clear lead over Jamaica at the final exchange. Lear finished in 49.66 and held on to win in 3:07.47, the no. 3 performance in history.
Jamaica was second in 3:08.24, no. 5 ever, then Great Britain at 3:09.84.
The Relays was also a qualifying event for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, with the first two in each heat advancing. The U.S. did not send 4×400 m teams and will expect to qualify on time, but did send 4×100 m squads.
The American men’s team of Ronnie Baker, Max Thomas, Lance Lang and Pjai Austin recorded a solid 37.77 to win heat one, ahead of Botswana (37.96), but Canada (37.56) and Germany (37.67) were faster in heat two and South Africa won heat three in 37.68.
The U.S. was in lane six in the final and was in sync and zoomed to a 37.43 win, with Baker brilliant off the start, a great turn by Lang and Austin just holding off South Africa’s Akani Simbine at the final (37.49), then Germany (37.76) and Australia (38.00). It’s the no. 8 performance in U.S. history and third-fastest at a World Athletics Relays. This was impressive and shows once again, passing matters.
The women’s 4×100 m relay was another story. Spain won heat one in 42.26, but the American team of Semira Killebrew, Jadyn Mays, Samirah Moody and Karimah Davis was only fourth in 43.33 and did not advance. China ran 42.62 to win heat two and Jamaica had the fastest time of the day at 41.96 to take heat three.
The U.S. did not compete in the second-day qualifier and will have to get a time or world rankings qualifier for the ‘27 Worlds.
In the final, Jamaica – with Olympic star Elaine Thompson-Herah on anchor, stormed to a 42.00 win, with daylight ahead of Canada (42.17) and Spain (42.31).
The 4×400 m races were spectacular, even without the U.S. Spain (3:24.44) and Canada (3:23.52) won the first two women’s heats, the Great Britain took heat three in a world-leading 3:21.28, just ahead of Norway (3:22.78 national record).
The final was even better, with Amalie Iuel powering the Norwegians into the lead with a 49.71 second leg, but Rocio Arroyo (50.51) moved Spain into the lead going into the final lap. But Norway’s Henriette Jaeger slammed the field with a 48.91 anchor and claimed the world lead at 3:20.96, another national record, now the 11st-fastest nation in history.
Spain got a national record 3:21.25 in second and Canada’s 3:22.26 was good for the bronze.
In the men’s heats, nine teams broke 3:00, with Australia taking down its national record from 1984 (!) with a brilliant 2:57.30, ahead of Botswana (2:57.52) and the Dutch in 2:58.22. South Africa won heat two in 2:58.04 and Qatar won heat three in 2:59.83.
The final was eagerly awaited, as Botswana brought Paris 200 m champ Letsile Tebogo onto the track for the second leg. Lee Eppie handed first to Tebogo in 44.26, but even with a 43.50 leg, Tebogo handed second as South Africa’s Lythe Pillay was credited with a stunning 42.66 leg to pass first.
Veteran star Bayapo Ndori got Botswana back into the lead after a 43.62 third leg and handed to Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, the 2025 World 400 m champ, who roared to a 43.09 finale and brought the home team the win in a sensational 2:54.47, with Zakithi Nene (43.65) and South Africa second in 2:55.07, then Australia in 2:55.20 and Portugal in 2:59.75.
For Botswana, it was a win for its adoring fans, and the no. 3 time in history, behind two U.S. wins. South Africa rang up the no. 5 performance in history and Australia, no. 6. Fantastic.
Observed: The attendance at the National Stadium was excellent under sunny skies and warm temperatures of about 80 F on Sunday. This was a success, notably for the brilliant running of the home team and the return of a powerful Jamaican squad.
For the U.S., the strong performance of the men’s 4×100 m team and a 37.43 win with a – to be honest – second-line team – is impressive. As was the mixed 4×400. Promising, very promising.
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