Between 1993 and 2016, the USA claimed 10 of the 13 gold medals available in the men's 4x400m at the World Indoor Championships. After missing out on the title at the past three editions, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 could mark a turning point for the US team.

With a season’s best of 3:03.57 putting them way ahead of any other nation on the entry list, and a squad of six men who have all broken 46 seconds for the individual 400m this year, the USA will be the team to beat in Nanjing.

Chris Bailey, Matthew Boling and Jacory Patterson – three quarters of the US team that took silver at the 2024 World Indoors – will return to national duty. Bailey was part of the victorious US men’s 4x400m teams at the 2023 World Championships and 2024 Olympic Games, while Boling claimed relay golds in both the mixed and men’s 4x400m at the 2023 World Championships.

The US squad also includes newcomers Jevon O’Bryant and Kennedy Lightner, while Brian Faust will aim to make a significant contribution to the squad in his second outing at the World Indoors.

Six teams in total are entered for the men’s 4x400m in Nanjing: USA, Hungary, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Nigeria and China.

Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel enters the World Indoor Championships as the second-fastest man in the individual 400m. He’ll be hoping to turn his impressive indoor season – highlighted by an African indoor record of 44.74 and earning an NCAA silver medal – into podium finishes in both the individual 400m and the 4x400m.

He will team up with African Games champion Chidi Okezie, Emmanuel Ojeli, Edidiong Udo, and James Onwuka as they aim to secure the first ever world indoor 4x400m medal, men’s or women’s, by an African nation.

The Jamaican team, led by outdoor national record-holder Rusheen McDonald, will be determined to secure a podium finish as well. The 32-year-old, who claimed 400m bronze at the 2024 World Indoors, is the most experienced member of what is otherwise a relatively young squad.

Hungary may not have the same depth as Jamaica or Nigeria, but their squad is bolstered by newly crowned European indoor champion Attila Molnar.

The home crowd could also help inspire the Chinese squad to get close to the podium positions.

Yemi Galadima for World Athletics

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