USA's mixed 4x400m team at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 (© Getty Images)
The USA chopped more than a second off the championship record they set last year, winning the mixed 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 in 3:09.54.
It was redemption of sorts for the world record-holders, who missed out on gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but here in Guangzhou their dominance was on full display as they won by almost three seconds.
The race was close at the half-way point with Australia and Kenya both contending for the lead alongside the USA. But a 44.16 effort from Johnnie Blockburger on the third leg gave the USA a comfortable lead ahead of Australia and Kenya.
Lynna Irby-Jackson, a regular fixture on USA’s relay teams in recent years, extended the lead on the final leg with a stunning 49.53 split, crossing the line in 3:09.54, the eighth-fastest performance in history.
Australia finished second in an Oceanian record of 3:12.20 and Kenya held on to third place in 3:13.10 ahead of world and Olympic medallists Great Britain & NI (3:14.74).
Earlier in the session, Spain and Italy won their respective heats in the second World Championships qualifying round.
Host nation China got off to a terrific start in the first heat with an opening leg of 44.91 from Liang Baotang. Germany, Jamaica and Spain were all in close contention on the following legs until Spain’s Blanca Hervas pulled clear on the final stage to win for Spain in a national record of 3:12.55. Germany (3:13.35) and China (3:13.39) claimed the other World Championship qualifying spots, the latter with a national record.
The second heat was a three-way tussle between Italy, France and Canada. Less than half a second separated the three nations at the end as they claimed the coveted top three spots, Italy winning in 3:12.53 ahead of France (3:12.66) and Canada, who set a national record of 3:12.95.
Qualified for World Championships
Round 1 qualifiers: USA (3:09.54), Australia (3:12.20), Kenya (3:13.10), Great Britain & NI (3:14.74), South Africa (3:16.29), Belgium (3:16.45), Poland (3:16.48), Ireland (3:19.64).
Round 2 qualifiers: Italy (3:12.53), Spain (3:12.55), France (3:12.66), Canada (3:12.95), Germany (3:13.35), PR of China (3:13.39).
South Africa gains revenge in men’s 4x400m
Less than half an hour after winning the men’s 4x100m, South Africa notched up another victory, this time in the men’s 4x400m.
With memories still fresh of the men’s 4x400m at last year’s World Relays, South Africa went into Sunday’s final keen to avenge the defeat they suffered on that occasion at the hands of Botswana. Lee Bhekempilo Eppie gave Botswana an early lead on the first leg, handing over just ahead of Great Britain & NI.
By the half-way point, Botswana continued to lead but South Africa was close behind in second, thanks to a 44.24 leg from Udeme Okon. Leendert Koekemoer maintained South Africa’s pace on the third leg with an almost identical 44.23, which carried them into the lead towards the end of that stage with Botswana close behind.
South Africa leads the men's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 (© Getty Images for World Athletics)
Zakithi Nene then pulled clear on the last leg for South Africa and powered through the line in 2:57.50, smashing the national record they set when finishing fifth in the Olympic final last year. Behind him, 2024 world indoor champion Alexander Doom had navigated his way through the field with a late charge, taking second place in 2:58.19 while Botswana held on for third in 2:58.27.
France, the world silver medallists, placed fourth in 2:58.80 and Kenya took fifth place in a national record of 2:59.29, assisted by a 43.59 leg by Boniface Mweresa. It was the first time outside of World Championships or Olympics that five teams had broken 3:00 in one race – and that was without the USA being in it.
As was the case last year, the USA had to race in the ‘round two’ heats to try to secure their place at the World Championships. They managed to do that successfully, breaking free from an early challenge from Australia before going on to win by a second in 2:58.68. Australia finished second in 2:59.73, just 0.03 outside the national record set at the 1984 Olympics. Qatar secured the third World Championships qualifying place in that heat in a national record of 3:00.29.
The first heat in round two was a lot closer. The Netherlands managed to pull clear on the third leg, but Brazil reeled them back in the closing stages to win in 3:01.14. Netherlands held on to second (3:01.32) while Jamaica took the third qualifying spot (3:02.00).
Qualified for World Championships
Round 1 qualifiers: South Africa (2:57.50), Belgium (2:58.19), Botswana (2:58.27), France (2:58.80), Kenya (2:59.29), Great Britain & NI (3:03.46), Portugal (3:04.52), PR of China (3:06.33).
Round 2 qualifiers: USA (2:58.68), Australia (2:59.73), Qatar (3:00.29), Brazil (3:01.14), Netherlands (3:01.32), Jamaica (3:02.00).
Spain reigns in women’s 4x400m
Of all of the surprising performances by the Spanish team in Guangzhou – and there were several – their victory in the women’s 4x400m final was perhaps the most unexpected.
For context, Spain has only ever reached one global championships final in the women’s 4x400m, and that was back in 1991. Their time of 3:27.57 from that race stood as the Spanish record up until last year when it was broken at the World Relays. And they hadn’t sent women’s 4x400m teams to the Olympics between 1996 and 2021, or the World Championships between 2003 and 2019.
Today in Guangzhou, though, Spain toppled the mighty USA to claim the women’s 4x400m crown at the World Relays.
They did so with a stunning performance, smashing their national record by a second to win in 3:24.13.
The Spanish team after winning the women's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 (© Getty Images for World Athletics)
Paula Sevilla got the team off to a strong start with an opening leg of 51.84. Karimah Davis responded on the second leg with 50.03 to put the USA in the lead, but Spain were never far behind, nor were South Africa.
Daniela Fra regained the lead for Spain towards the end of the third leg, only for USA’s Bailey Lear to kick back at the start of the anchor leg. But just when it seemed as though Lear would coast to a predicted victory for USA, Spain’s Blanca Hervas – contesting her second race of the evening after competing in the mixed 4x400m earlier in the session – came storming down the home straight to pull clear and take the win in 3:24.13.
USA finished second in 3:24.72 while South Africa was close behind in third, setting a national record of 3:24.84. There was also a national record for Norway in fourth, helped by a 49.71 anchor from Henriette Jaeger.
The times achieved by the nations in the second World Championships qualifying round would have been competitive in the main final, but instead they had to compete for their places in Tokyo after missing out on automatic places in yesterday’s first round.
Belgium, Poland and Great Britain & NI were locked in battle for most of the way in the first heat. Britain’s Nicole Yeargin managed to hold off strong challenges from Belgium’s Helene Ponette and Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka to win in 3:24.46 ahead of Belgium (3:24.52) and Poland (3:24.56).
In the second heat, Ireland and Australia exchanged leads several times, but Sharlene Mawdsley eventually managed to pull clear on the final leg to win for Ireland in 3:24.69. Australia (3:27.31) and Switzerland (3:32.37) took the other two qualifying spots.
Qualified for World Championships
Round 1 qualifiers: Spain (3:24.13), USA (3:24.72), South Africa (3:24.84), Norway (3:25.35), Italy (3:26.40), France (3:26.87), Canada (3:27.84), Germany (3:29.65).
Round 2 qualifiers: Great Britain & NI (3:24.46), Belgium (3:24.52), Poland (3:24.56), Ireland (3:24.69), Australia (3:27.31), Switzerland (3:32.37).
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
