Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton stormed to their second mixed 4x100m world record* of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, running 39.62 to win the final on Sunday (3).

Two world records* were achieved on the first day of action in Botswana – Canada and Jamaica opening the competition by setting respective world records of 40.07 and 39.99 in the heats, improving on the world best of 40.30 run by Canada when the mixed 4x100m made its global debut at last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou.

The two teams went head-to-head in a thrilling final, in battle for the World Relays title, top prize money and qualification for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September.

Just like in the heats – using the running order of man, woman, man, woman – 2024 Diamond League 100m champion Blake handed the baton to Tina Clayton, who then passed it on to Goldson before Tia Clayton ran the anchor leg, crossing the finish line in another world record to secure the title in style ahead of Canada in 40.23 and USA in 40.33.

The Canadian team again featured Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-Éloïse Leclair, Duan Asemota and Audrey Leduc, while USA was represented by men's world 4x100m champion Courtney Lindsey, Jada Mowatt, Kyree King, and E'Lexis Hollis.

The top six teams automatically secured their spots for the Ultimate Championship – Jamaica, Canada and USA joined by Germany, Spain and Nigeria – while all the finalists had already qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 by safely advancing from the heats.

"The world record was not in our minds because our main aim was to qualify for the Ultimate Championship and get the baton around, though two world records in one event feels great," said world 100m silver medallist Tina Clayton, who also formed part of Jamaica's world silver medal-winning women's 4x100m team alongside her twin sister Tia in Tokyo last year.

"The world will definitely see us in Budapest at the Ultimate Championship."

After running in the women’s 4x100m on day one, world indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso again anchored Italy to a heat victory on day two – crossing the finish line in 40.69 to win the first heat of the mixed 4x100m additional round to qualify for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.

The top two teams in each of the two heats automatically qualified for Beijing and Portugal finished fast to finish second place in 40.76. As a result – after their women’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m performances on day one – the nation qualified all three of their teams in Gaborone for Beijing.  

Australia and Switzerland secured World Championships places from the second heat, respectively clocking 40.78 and 41.02.

Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Result: 1 Jamaica 39.62 WR, 2 Canada 40.23, 3 United States 40.33, 4 Germany 40.52, 5 Spain 41.05, 6 Nigeria 42.03, Great Britain & NI DNF, Netherlands DNF

The top six teams have qualified for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26. All eight finalists have qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27, with their finishing order determining their lane seeding positions.

The other teams to qualify for Beijing through Sunday’s additional round were: Australia, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland.

*Subject to the usual ratification procedure