First World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 relay qualifiers confirmed in Gaborone

The first relay teams have qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 after two days of thrilling action at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 (2-3 May). 

In total, 72 teams – 12 in each of the six relay disciplines contested in Gaborone – automatically qualified for Beijing. The first 48 automatic places were secured on Saturday, while the final 24 places were decided through Sunday’s second qualifying round. The finals, meanwhile, decided prize money and preferential lane seeding positions. 

Hosts Botswana provided the most memorable moment of the weekend with victory in the men’s 4x400m, not only securing their place to defend their title at the World Championships, but also smashing the competition record with 2:54.47, the third-fastest clocking in history.  

The competition record was almost broken in the men’s 4x100m as USA triumphed in 37.43. Jamaica stormed to victory in the women’s event in 42.00, while Norway were surprise winners of the women’s 4x400m in a world-leading national record of 3:20.96. 

Jamaica improved on their own world record from the mixed 4x100m heats to win the final in 39.62, while the USA were convincing winners of the mixed 4x400m final, breaking the championship record with 3:07.47. As well as securing World Championships places, the winners of the mixed events were also among the teams to qualify for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September.

China qualified two teams for the World Championships on home soil – in the women's and men's 4x100m.

The remaining relay places for the World Championships – four in each of the relay disciplines – will be determined by the top lists at the end of the respective qualifying periods. 

Full list of teams qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 through the World Relays 

Women’s 4x100m: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Spain  

Men’s 4x100m: Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, China, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain & NI, Jamaica, Netherlands, South Africa, United States  

Women’s 4x400m: Australia, Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain  

Men’s 4x400m: Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Zimbabwe  

Mixed 4x100m: Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United States  

Mixed 4x400m: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, United States