Josefine Tomine Eriksen Aks, Amalie Iuel, Astri Ertzgaard and Henriette Jæger teamed up to make history for Norway at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, running a world-leading national record of 3:20.96 to win the women’s 4x400m final on Sunday (3).

That quartet finished sixth in the world final in Tokyo last year but they went almost three seconds faster in Botswana – first running a national record of 3:22.78 in the heats and then improving that mark again to clinch the crown ahead of defending champions Spain, who also ran a national record of 3:21.25. Canada finished third in 3:22.66.

Spain had the lead after the first leg – Paula Sevilla handing the baton to Ana Prieto, ahead of Great Britain, Italy and Canada.

Lauren Gale moved Canada to the fore at the break, chased by Iuel for Norway and Prieto for Spain. Iuel had the strongest finish and put Norway ahead at the changeover, handing the baton to Ertzgaard.

Spain’s Rocío Arroyo passed Ertzgaard at the end of that third leg before anchor runner Blanca Hervás strode away in the lead for the defending champions. But she was tracked by 2025 world indoor 400m bronze medallist Jæger who surged in front down the back straight and couldn’t be caught.

That 48.91 anchor leg by Jæger secured Norway the win ahead of Spain, while Olympic 400m hurdles finalist Savannah Sutherland moved Canada up to third place.

Olympic bronze medallists Great Britain finished fourth ahead of world bronze medallists the Netherlands and Italy, who equalled their national record.

“We have also qualified for the World Championships in Beijing and that's what matters the most to us,” said Iuel. “Two years ago, we finished fifth, and last year, we finished fourth. This year we all agreed that we needed to get on that podium and we did it. 

“We knew that we had a strong team and I knew that we were about to do something crazy. We had a run through yesterday, everyone was really nervous, but today, we had a confidence booster because we had set a national record. We were all surprised and we knew we could still run faster. We left it all out there. This is our first time getting a gold medal in the relays and this medal has a special place in our hearts.”

A powerful anchor leg by Sharlene Mawdsley helped Ireland to a first heat win in the earlier additional round, securing their qualification for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 in style.

France led until the final leg, trailed by Jamaica and Ireland. But Arlene Crossan put Ireland in a strong position on the third leg, leaving Mawdsley ready to kick past her rivals off the final bend and power over the finish line in 3:23.83.

France held on to the runner-up spot, Amandine Brossier running the anchor to secure the second World Championships qualification place in 3:24.48 to deny Jamaica in 3:25.38.

World and Olympic medallists Justyna Święty-Ersetic and Natalia Bukowiecka helped Poland to a second heat win, Bukowiecka reaching the finish line in 3:26.52 to confirm her team’s place for Beijing. She held off Australia’s Ellie Beer, the quartet clocking 3:26.92 to also qualify for the World Championships ahead of South Africa.

Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Result: 1 Norway 3:20.96 WL NR, 2 Spain 3:21.25 NR, 3 Canada 3:22.66, 4 Great Britain & NI 3:22.77, 5 Netherlands 3:23.12, 6 Italy 3:23.40 =NR, 7 Czechia 3:28.97, 8 Germany 3:29.37