The USA in action in the mixed 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 (© Getty Images for World Athletics)
Nine months on from winning all three 4x400m relays at the Olympic Games, relays superpower USA couldn't quite match that feat in the heats at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25.
They were still one of the most outstanding nations in action on the first evening of the competition, winning their heats in the women's and mixed 4x400m with the fastest times of the day, but their luck ran out in the men's 4x400m as they failed to qualify for the final.
USA lived up to their status as the favourites in the mixed relay, winning their heat by more than a second to secure their place at the World Championships.
It was only in the second half of their heat, though, that the world record-holders started to pull away. After a relatively even start, Poland pulled ahead on the second leg, thanks to Olympic bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka. USA’s Courtney Okolo and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke were close behind, but Chris Robinson put the US in the lead on the third leg before handing over to anchor leg runner Lynna Irby-Jackson, who brought the team home in 3:11.37 – the fastest ever heat time at the World Relays.
Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley overtook Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersectic to claim the all-important second place in 3:12.56. Poland’s time in third (3:12.70) proved to be enough to advance to tomorrow’s final.
The other two heats were much closer. In the first heat, Belgium and Australia exchanged leads several times before Helena Ponette pulled away from Alanah Yukich on the final leg to win for Belgium in 3:11.83 ahead of Australia, whose 3:12.34 clocking was an Oceanian record. Kenya’s 3:13.41 run in third was enough to advance to the final on time.
There were similar scenes – and exactly the same winning margin (0.51) – in the third and final heat, this time between Olympic bronze medallists Great Britain and South Africa.
The two teams went into the final leg level. Britain’s Nicole Yeargin had the better position on the inside of the lane while South Africa’s Zeney van der Walt was on Yeargin’s outside. They were still level up until the final bend, then Yeargin pulled clear to win in 3:13.28. South Africa held on for second place, while Spain finished third and missed out on a place in the final.
Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays mixed 4x400m final
Ht 1: Belgium (3:11.83), Australia (3:12.34), Kenya (3:13.41)
Ht 2: USA (3:11.37), Ireland (3:12.56), Poland (3:12.70)
Ht 3: Great Britain & NI (3:13.28), South Africa (3:13.79)
USA and Spain the standouts in women’s 4x400m heats
The main themes of the day – easy automatic qualification for the USA and a surprising performance from Spain – continued in the women’s 4x400m heats.
It wasn’t the strongest of starts for the USA, though, as they were in seventh place after the first leg. But a solid effort of 50.56 from Karimah Davis on the second leg gave USA the lead at half way ahead of Norway and France.
Australia and Canada moved into second and third respectively on the third leg as USA’s lead came under threat, but the Olympic champions pulled clear again on the final leg, thanks to a 50.47 run from Bailey Lear, giving the USA victory in 3:26.05.
Louise Maraval moved into second for France (3:26.46), holding off a storming 49.79 effort from Norway’s Henriette Jaeger, whose final time of 3:26.61 was enough for Norway to advance to the final, as was Canada’s 3:27.28 in fourth.
Spain produced a gun-to-tape victory in the second heat. Belgium, Italy and Great Britain all tried their best to make inroads on Spain’s early lead, but they could not be caught and ultimately won with a comfortable margin, clocking 3:26.25.
Italy claimed second place in 3:27.03 ahead of Britain. Despite utilising four of the eight squad members that earned Olympic bronze last year, Britain’s 3:27.47 wasn’t enough to advance to the final.
In the third and final heat, South Africa moved into the lead on the second leg and managed to maintain it to the end. Hurdles specialist Zeney van der Walt, who had raced in the mixed 4x400m just 90 minutes prior, ran a strong anchor leg to bring the team home in a national record of 3:28.01.
Germany took second place in 3:28.63 ahead of Ireland (3:30.06). Somewhat surprisingly, Poland and Jamaica – usually among the strongest nations in the women’s 4x400m – finished fifth and sixth.
Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays women’s 4x400m final
Ht 1: USA (3:26.05), France (3:26.46), Norway (3:26.61), Canada (3:27.28)
Ht 2: Spain (3:26.25), Italy (3:27.03)
Ht 3: South Africa (3:28.01), Germany (3:28.63)
History repeats for USA as South Africa and China impress in men’s 4x400m heats
For the second World Relays in a row, the USA failed to advance automatically to the men’s 4x400m final.
The world and Olympic champions were beaten into third place in their heat, and with just the top two teams in each of the four heats advancing to the final, it means the USA will have to achieve a top-three finish in the second round of races tomorrow to secure their place at the World Championships in Tokyo.
France, the world silver medallists, put forward a full-strength team and were rewarded with victory in 3:00.30, helped by a 44.45 leg from Loic Prevot. Kenya came through to take second place in 3:00.88, while the USA finished third (3:01.23).
Their time would have been enough to win the third heat. Instead, that came down to a thrilling three-way battle between Belgium, Great Britain and Qatar on the final leg.
The three teams were within one stride of each other going into the final leg. Qatar’s Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim tried to force his way between Belgium’s Alexander Doom and Britain’s Charlie Dobson but was ultimately unsuccessful. The latter two ran side by side down the home straight as Belgium took the win in 3:01.35, 0.03 ahead of Britain.
In the first heat of the round, South Africa produced a world-leading run of 3:00.00. Anchor leg runner Zakithi Nene already had a comfortable lead, but that didn’t stop him running a 43.97 split to secure their victory.
Behind them, China came through to take second place – much to the delight of the home crowd, smashing their national record with 3:01.87 and booking their place at the World Championships ahead of Spain (3:02.04).
Despite not having several of the team members that contributed to their Olympic silver medal, Botswana still managed to come away with victory in their heat, clocking 3:01.23. Portugal took a brief lead towards the end of the third leg, and they held on to second place at the end, clocking a national record of 3:01.78.
USA wasn’t the only relays powerhouse to miss out on the final. The likes of Poland, Jamaica and the Netherlands – all of whom are often in contention at major championships – will have to try again in round two on Sunday.
Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays men’s 4x400m final
Ht 1: South Africa (3:00.00), PR of China (3:01.87)
Ht 2: Botswana (3:01.23), Portugal (3:01.78)
Ht 3: Belgium (3:01.35), Great Britain & NI (3:01.38)
Ht 4: France (3:00.30), Kenya (3:00.88)
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
