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Multiple global medallists will clash in the race for women’s 4x100m podium places, prize money and World Championships qualification at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May).

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.

The top three from last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou – Great Britain and NI, Spain and Jamaica – renew their rivalry against world and Olympic champions USA and Germany, whose squad includes several of the athletes who have contributed to their world and Olympic medal success over the past few years.

Many other global finalists, including Canada and France, should also be in the mix, although the relays are known – and loved – for their unpredictability.

USA start as the reigning Olympic and world champions and while the athletes from those title-winning squads won’t be in Gaborone, the event offers NCAA 100m and 4x100m champion Samirah Moody, Semira Killebrew, Jadyn Mays and Jada Mowatt the chance to make their mark.

Jamaica have finished on the podium at all bar two editions of the World Athletics Championships and will want to continue that tradition in Beijing next year. The first step is securing automatic qualification, and their squad shows they mean business.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah and two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson are listed for the women’s 4x100m, but as for all federations, their final teams can feature any athlete entered for the competition. The wider Jamaican squad includes twins Tia and Tina Clayton as well as Jonielle Smith, who teamed up with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to secure world silver in Tokyo last year.

Germany clinched world bronze in 2023 and 2025, as well as Olympic bronze in 2024, and two members of all those teams – Rebekka Haase and Gina Lückenkemper – are set to line up again in Gaborone.

Success Eduan ran a storming leg to anchor Great Britain to victory in 42.21 in Guangzhou last year and she returns as part of a squad aiming to retain the title. World U20 100m bronze medallist Nia Wedderburn-Goodison also formed part of that quartet and that duo are joined on the squad by athletes including two-time Olympic and world relay medallist Imani-Lara Lansiquot.

Spain sprung a surprise to secure second place in Guangzhou and all four members of that team – Esperança Cladera, Jaël Bestué, Paula Sevilla and María Isabel Pérez – are entered for Gaborone, although Sevilla may focus on the 4x400m, having formed part of both teams at the last World Relays.

Canada is also represented by the same four athletes as in Guangzhou and at last year's World Championships in Tokyo, the quartet of Marie-Éloïse Leclair, Audrey Leduc, Jacqueline Madogo and Sade McCreath improving the national record at both competitions.

France finished one place ahead of Canada in Tokyo, with that team of Marie-Ange Rimlinger, Sarah Richard, Helene Parisot and Gémima Joseph among the entries again this time.

The Italian squad stars world indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso, joined by her fellow 2022 European medal-winning teammates Dalia Kaddari, Alessia Pavese and Gloria Hooper. Hooper and Irene Siragusa were also part of the Italian team that won at the World Relays in 2021. World finalists Poland secured silver ahead of Italy at the 2022 European Championships and two-time world indoor 60m hurdles medallist Pia Skrzyszowska returns for relay duty again in Gaborone.

Olympic finalists Netherlands and Switzerland are also in action along with Chile, who qualified a women’s 4x100m team for the World Athletics Championships for the first time in Guangzhou and will want to repeat the feat when they line up in Gaborone.

Jess Whittington for World Athletics