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World champions USA, Olympic champions Canada and defending World Relays winners South Africa will clash in one of the most eagerly anticipated events at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May), as the race for men’s 4x100m podium places, prize money and World Championships qualification gets under way.

A total of 12 federations will automatically secure their spots for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 in each of the six events in Gaborone – the top two teams in each of the four heats on day one and then the top two teams in each of the two heats of the additional round on day two.

All five nations to have won the men’s 4x100m at the World Relays – USA, Jamaica, Brazil, Italy and South Africa – are among the 22 teams entered, underlining the depth of the field.

USA – the most successful nation in the history of the men’s 4x100m at the World Relays with victories in 2015, 2017 and 2024 – will start as the favourites, and they’ll be keen to avenge their defeat from last year.

Their team might be missing the likes of Olympic champion Noah Lyles and world indoor champion Jordan Anthony, but it is still loaded with speed and relay experience.

Courtney Lindsey and Kyree King have been teammates at the past two editions of the World Relays, teaming up to take victory in 2024 in 37.40 – just 0.02 shy of the USA’s competition record from 2015. They recently joined forces to run 37.86 in Gainesville, the fastest time this year by a single nation.

Lindsey has PBs of 9.82 for 100m and 19.71 for 200m, while King has a 100m best of 9.96.

Ronnie Baker and Pjai Austin also sharpen the US threat. Baker, the 2018 world indoor 60m bronze medallist, was part of the US team that won at the 2017 World Relays, while Austin has a 100m PB of 9.89. They recently teamed up, also in Gainesville, to run 37.97.

Brandon Carnes, who helped USA to the world title in 2023, adds further experience to a squad expected to feature prominently again.

Canada has entered the four men who claimed Olympic gold in Paris and world silver in Tokyo: Andre De Grasse, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown.

The quartet has proved itself to be one of the most reliable teams in global sprint relay running. Blake and De Grasse have already shown strong form in the host city this season, warming up for the World Relays with impressive performances at the recent Botswana Grand Prix. Blake won the 100m in a PB of 9.93 for 100m, while De Grasse finished second in 9.95 and won the 200m in 19.84 – his fastest times in several years.

South Africa, meanwhile, return as defending World Relays winners after their victory in Guangzhou last year. They also secured Olympic silver in Paris, and three members of their winning team from Guangzhou – Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine – are on this year’s squad.

Simbine remains one of the most consistent sprinters in the world, while South Africa’s recent relay record suggests they have become a genuine force in this event.

Jamaica won the men’s 4x100m at the inaugural World Relays in 2014 and finished second one year later, but they have not made the podium since. Based on pure speed, though, they have the potential to contend for top honours.

Ackeem Blake, winner of the 2024 Diamond League Final, is one of four men on the squad with a sub-10-second PB, along with Rohan Watson, Kadrian Goldson and Ryiem Forde.

Great Britain and NI also have several proven relay performers among their entries. World indoor 60m champion Jeremiah Azu, Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake were all part of the team that earned Olympic bronze in 2024 and return to relay duty in Gaborone.

Brazil won the men’s 4x100m at the 2019 World Relays and set their national record of 37.72 at the World Championships later that year. Since then, they have cultivated two sub-10 sprinters in Erik Cardoso and Felipe Bardi, giving them the individual speed to challenge again.

Italy, another past World Relays winner in this discipline, will also be among the teams looking to make an impact. Their 2021 success came just a few months before they claimed Olympic victory in Tokyo, and they remain part of the event’s recent history.

Australia set a national record of 37.87 last year and have already run 38.34 this season, making them the second-fastest nation in the world this year behind USA.

World bronze medallists Netherlands, who set a national record of 37.81 in Tokyo last year, also return with podium credentials.

Botswana will have the backing of the home crowd and their squad includes Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, ensuring they will be one of the most closely watched teams in Gaborone.

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics