The United States underlined their supremacy in the mixed 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, winning the final on Sunday (3) in 3:07.47.
Their time not only took two seconds off the competition record they set last year, it also came within 0.06 of the world record set by the USA at the 2024 Olympics.
Bryce Deadmon, who was also part of USA&rsquo;s mixed 4x400m team at the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 World Championships, got the team off to a strong start, but Jamaica, Kenya and Britain were close behind at the end of the first leg.
Paris Peoples started to carve out a slight lead over Jamaica&rsquo;s Shana Kaye Anderson on the second leg before Jenoah McKiver took up the running for the USA. He kept Jamaica&rsquo;s 2023 world 400m champion Antonio Watson at bay on the third leg, while France, Britain and Kenya battled it out a few strides behind.
On the final leg, Bailey Lear extended USA&rsquo;s advantage to cross the line in 3:07.47. Jamaica were rewarded with a huge improvement on their national record in second place, clocking 3:08.24 &ndash; making them the fourth-fastest nation ever for the event.
"This victory for me represents resilience, perseverance and consistency," said USA's Peoples. "Even when you can't see the end of the finish line, you have to just keep going."
Yemi Mary John ran a storming anchor leg to elevate Britain into third place in 3:09.84 ahead of Kenya (3:09.93). Italy and Spain were fifth and sixth, securing their place in this event at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26.
Australia placed seventh while Poland failed to finish, but all eight finalists have qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.
In the second World Championships qualifying round earlier in the day, Canada produced a national record of 3:12.43 to overtake Belgium in the closing stages. Belgium, the world indoor champions in this event, finished second in 3:12.79 to secure their place in Beijing.
South Africa passed Nigeria on the home straight of the second heat as both teams secured qualifying spots for Beijing, 3:12.77 to 3:12.88.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics 
Result: 1 United States 3:07.47, 2 Jamaica 3:08.24, 3 Great Britain &amp; NI 3:09.84, 4 Kenya 3:09.93, 5 Italy 3:10.52, 6 Spain 3:13.05, 7 Australia 3:13.07, Poland DNF
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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&rsquo;s additional round were:&nbsp;Belgium, Canada, Nigeria and South Africa.
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World Athletics Relays

The United States underlined their supremacy in the mixed 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26, winning the final on Sunday (3) in 3:07.47.

USA smash competition record in mixed 4x400m in Gaborone

Jamaica&rsquo;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 &ndash; 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&rsquo;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 &ndash; using the running order of man, woman, man, woman &ndash; 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&nbsp;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-&Eacute;lo&iuml;se 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 &ndash; Jamaica, Canada and USA joined by Germany, Spain and Nigeria &ndash; 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&rsquo;s 4x100m on day one, world indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso again anchored Italy to a heat victory on day two &ndash; 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 &ndash; after their women&rsquo;s 4x100m and men&rsquo;s 4x400m performances on day one &ndash; the nation qualified all three of their teams in Gaborone for Beijing.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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 &amp; 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&rsquo;s additional round were: Australia, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland.
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure

Report on the mixed 4x100m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

Jamaica improve mixed 4x100m world record to 39.62 in Gaborone

The first eight teams in each relay event at the&nbsp;Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26&nbsp;have secured their places for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 following the opening day of competition on Saturday (2).&nbsp;
Across the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x100m, women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x400m, mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m, the top two teams in each heat, plus the next two fastest teams in each event, qualified for Beijing and advanced to Sunday&rsquo;s finals in Gaborone.&nbsp;
The remaining teams return for an&nbsp;additional&nbsp;qualifying round on Sunday, where four teams &ndash; the top two in each heat &ndash; will secure the final automatic qualification places available for the 2027 World Championships.&nbsp;
The finals, meanwhile, will&nbsp;decide&nbsp;prize money and preferential lane seeding positions for the World Championships.&nbsp;
The mixed relay events in Gaborone also serve as the main qualification route for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26. The top six teams in each of the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m finals on Sunday will automatically qualify for Budapest.&nbsp;
The competition got off to a&nbsp;stunning start with Canada breaking the world record in the mixed 4x100m. Moments later, Jamaica bettered the mark with 39.99.&nbsp;Olympic champions Canada&nbsp;were&nbsp;fastest overall in the men&rsquo;s 4x100m (37.57)&nbsp;while Jamaica were the standouts in the women&rsquo;s event (41.96).&nbsp;
Great Britain &amp; NI posted the fastest times in the mixed 4x400m (3:09.69) and women&rsquo;s 4x400m (3:21.28), while Australia smashed the Oceanian record to lead the qualifiers in the men&rsquo;s event (2:57.30).&nbsp;
<h3>Teams qualified for WCH Beijing 27 and competing in the finals on Sunday:&nbsp;</h3>
Women&rsquo;s 4x100m:&nbsp;Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Poland, Portugal, Spain&nbsp;
Men&rsquo;s 4x100m:&nbsp;Australia, Botswana, Canada, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Netherlands, South Africa, United States&nbsp;
Women&rsquo;s 4x400m:&nbsp;Canada, Czechia, Germany,&nbsp;Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain&nbsp;
Men&rsquo;s 4x400m:&nbsp;Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, Zimbabwe&nbsp;
Mixed 4x100m:&nbsp;Canada, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Spain, United States&nbsp;
Mixed 4x400m: Australia, Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Poland, Spain, United States&nbsp;

The first eight teams in each relay event at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have secured their places for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27

First 48 relay teams qualify for World Athletics Championships Beijing 27

&bull; Four teams break 3:10 in mixed 4x400m heats
&bull; Britain dominate women&rsquo;s 4x400m with second-fastest time ever at World Relays
&bull; Australia upstage hosts Botswana to smash Oceanian record in men&rsquo;s 4x400m
&nbsp;
World-leading marks fell across all three 4x400m disciplines at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 on Saturday (2), as Great Britain &amp; NI and Australia produced standout performances in the first round.
Before this year, there had been just one sub-3:10 performance in the mixed 4x400m at the World Relays. In Gaborone on Saturday, four teams broke that barrier in a high-quality opening round, with Great Britain &amp; NI, USA, Kenya and Spain all dipping under 3:10.
USA, the world champions and world record-holders, started as the overwhelming favourites in the first heat as they set out to defend the title they won in Guangzhou last year.
Bryce Deadmon and Paris Peoples gave the US an early lead on the opening two legs. Brian Faust took up the running on leg three, but he was overtaken by Australia&rsquo;s Thomas Reynolds in the closing stages.
Bailey Lear regained the lead for the US on the final leg, but had to work hard to hold off the challenge from Spain&rsquo;s Blanca Hervas. Lear crossed the line in 3:09.82 as Spain finished second in a national record of 3:09.89. Australia placed third in an Oceanian record of 3:10.57, which ultimately proved enough to secure World Championships qualification and a place in the final. Ireland, European champions in this event just two years ago, missed out (3:12.05).
The second heat was more clear-cut, with Jamaica dominating from the midway point. Deandre Watkin and Shana Kaye Anderson gave Jamaica a slight lead at halfway before 2023 world champion Antonio Watson opened up daylight on the chase pack.
Rushell Clayton maintained Jamaica&rsquo;s lead on the final leg, but behind her there were significant changes. Natalia Bukowiecka elevated Poland from fourth to second, with Nigeria&rsquo;s Patience Okon George fighting hard. Clayton crossed the line in 3:11.68 ahead of Bukowiecka (3:13.00) with George close behind (3:13.12).
Kenya led for most of the way in the final heat, with George Mutinda and Mercy Oketch producing strong efforts on the opening two legs. But Olympic bronze medallists Great Britain &amp; NI closed well on the final leg thanks to Yemi Mary John, catching Kenya just before the line to win in 3:09.69.
Kenya&rsquo;s Mercy Chebet held on to finish second in an African record of 3:09.87, while Italy placed third in 3:10.60 to secure the final qualifying spot for the World Championships.
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays mixed 4x400m final</h3>
Ht 1: USA (3:09.82), Spain (3:09.89), Australia (3:10.57) Ht 2: Jamaica (3:11.68), Poland (3:13.00) Ht 3: Great Britain &amp; NI (3:09.69), Kenya (3:09.87), Italy (3:10.60)
&nbsp;
<h2>British women dominate in 4x400m first round</h2>
Defending champions Spain got proceedings under way in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m. They were locked in battle with Germany for most of the way, but Blanca Hervas, who had already raced in the mixed event just 88 minutes prior, came through to win in 3:24.44 &ndash; their second-fastest time behind the Spanish record of 3:24.13 they set when winning in Guangzhou.
Czechia&rsquo;s world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel produced a superb anchor leg to finish second in 3:25.42, overtaking Germany (3:25.76) in the closing stages.
Canada dominated the second heat after Zoe Sherar and Lauren Gale built a big lead by halfway, and their teammates maintained that advantage through the second half. They won comfortably in 3:23.52, their fastest ever time at the World Relays.
Italy placed second in 3:24.46, finishing clearly ahead of Poland, whose time of 3:27.62 wasn&rsquo;t enough to secure World Championships qualification.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f625a19506d57d29050c6f.jpg" alt="Britain's Nicole Yeargin in the women's 4x400m in Gaborone" />
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Britain's Nicole Yeargin in the women's 4x400m in Gaborone (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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Great Britain &amp; NI were unchallenged in the third and final heat. Laviai Nielsen, Emily Newnham, Charlotte Henrich and Nicole Yeargin teamed up to win in 3:21.28 &ndash; their fourth-fastest time ever, behind only the three performances that earned them global medals. It&rsquo;s also the second-fastest time ever at the World Relays, after USA&rsquo;s competition record of 3:19.39 set back in 2015.
Behind them, Norway &ndash; anchored by 2025 world indoor bronze medallist Henriette Jaeger &ndash; finished second in a national record of 3:22.78. The Netherlands placed third in 3:24.74 to secure the last available qualifying place for the World Championships.
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays women&rsquo;s 4x400m final</h3>
Ht 1: Spain (3:24.44), Czechia (3:25.42), Germany (3:25.76) Ht 2: Canada (3:23.52), Italy (3:24.46) Ht 3: Great Britain &amp; NI (3:21.28), Norway (3:22.78), Netherlands (3:24.74)
&nbsp;
<h2>Australia threaten competition record to hold off Botswana in men&rsquo;s 4x400m</h2>
Australia&rsquo;s quartet of Luke van Ratingen, Reece Holder, Matthew Hunt and Aidan Murphy joined forces to take down an Oceanian 4x400m record that had stood since 1984.
Despite the home crowd cheering on world champions Botswana, Australia led after two legs, reaching halfway in 1:27.71. World champion Collen Kebinatshipi put Botswana back into the lead on the third leg, but he fumbled his exchange as Australia regained the lead.
Murphy held on to win for Australia in a world-leading Oceanian record of 2:57.30 &ndash; just 0.05 shy of USA&rsquo;s competition record from 2015. Botswana placed second in 2:57.52, the third-fastest time ever at the World Relays. The Netherlands were third in 2:58.22, which ultimately proved enough to secure a World Championships place.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f6250d9506d57d29050c69.jpg" alt="Australia's Andrew Murphy in the men's 4x400m in Gaborone" />
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Australia's Andrew Murphy in the men's 4x400m in Gaborone (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Monirul Bhuiyan)
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Zimbabwe proved to be the surprise package of the second heat, leading at halfway ahead of defending champions South Africa. Teenager Leendert Koekemoer produced a powerful third leg to give South Africa a lead they maintained to the finish, winning in 2:58.04.
Portugal finished strongly to catch Zimbabwe just before the line, with both teams clocking national records of 2:59.01 and booking their spots in Beijing.
The third heat produced the closest finish of the day &ndash; so close that Qatar and Belgium could not be separated to the thousandth and were declared joint winners in 2:59.83. Spain finished third in a national record of 3:00.26 but missed out on a World Championships place.
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays men&rsquo;s 4x400m final</h3>
Ht 1: Australia (2:57.30), Botswana (2:57.52), Netherlands (2:58.22) Ht 2: South Africa (2:58.04), Portugal (2:59.01), Zimbabwe (2:59.01) Ht 3: Belgium (2:59.83), Qatar (2:59.83)
 Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

World-leading marks fell across all three 4x400m disciplines

World leads fall as 4x400m teams light up first round in Gaborone

<ul>
<li>Global relay celebration opens with two world records in mixed 4x100m</li>
<li>Canada's Olympic champions run world world lead in men's 4x100m as Botswana thrill home fans</li>
<li>Jamaica lead women's 4x100m in series of dramatic heats</li>
</ul>
The Jamaican quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton stormed to a mixed 4x100m world record* in the very first event of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 on Saturday (2).
The competition started in sensational style as Jamaica&rsquo;s 39.99 in the third of the three mixed 4x100m heats beat the world record of 40.07 set by Canada in heat one. That had improved on the world best of 40.30 achieved by Canada when the mixed 4x100m made its global debut at last year&rsquo;s World Relays in Guangzhou.
Using the new running order of man, woman, man, woman, Blake handed the baton to Tina Clayton, who then passed it on to Goldson before Tia Clayton ran away unchallenged to break 40 seconds in this event for the first time.
Great Britain &amp; NI finished second in that heat in 40.72.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f617c6205fc5099d15612c.jpg" alt="Jamaica's mixed 4x100m team at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26" />
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Jamaica's mixed 4x100m team at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-&Eacute;loise Leclair, Duan Asemota and Audrey Leduc formed the Canadian team that ran 40.07, Leduc running a storming anchor leg to hold off Germany (40.15), Netherlands (40.20) and Nigeria (40.24), who all also dipped under the previous world best.
Those four teams all also qualified for the final on Sunday (3) and automatically qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 &ndash; with the top two teams in each of the three heats and the next two quickest securing their spots. On Sunday, teams will also race for places for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September &ndash; the top six teams in the final will book those places.
USA won the second mixed 4x100m heat in 40.36 ahead of Spain (40.51).
&ldquo;It is an honour to represent our country and we wear our colours with pride,&rdquo; said Tina Clayton. &ldquo;When you get the opportunity to put on the green, yellow and black, it is a real privilege, so we are grateful.&rdquo;
After running their short-lived world record of 40.07, Leduc said Canada can go even quicker in the final.
&ldquo;I believe we can do better than that, so let us wait for tomorrow,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We are great athletes, we are super fast, and we knew that we could expect that.&rdquo;
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays mixed 4x100m final</h3>
Ht 1: Canada (40.07 WR), Germany (40.15), Netherlands (40.20), Nigeria (40.24) Ht 2: United States (40.36), Spain (40.51) Ht 3: Jamaica (39.99 WR), Great Britain &amp; NI (40.72) 
<h2>Jamaica top qualifiers in women&rsquo;s 4x100m</h2>
Jamaica also led the women&rsquo;s 4x100m heats as two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson combined with Jodean Williams, Lavanya Williams and Jonielle Smith to clock 41.96 and win the third and final heat.
As for all events in Gaborone, the top two teams in each of the three heats and the next two quickest automatically qualified for the final and also booked their spots for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.
Germany finished second behind Jamaica in that third heat in 42.44, Sina Kammerschmitt and Sophia Junk returning to the track a short while after forming part of their nation&rsquo;s mixed 4x100m team.
"The goal is to win the gold &ndash; diamond on gold," said Jackson. "This is my first time in Africa and I am so excited. People turned up in large numbers and it has been so loud. I love it here and the people are so welcoming."
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f6175b1f0949f0d952952b.jpg" alt="Women's 4x100m heat action at the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26" />
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Women's 4x100m heat action at the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,CiAgICA8c3ZnIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgd2lkdGg9IjE2IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjE2IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDgwIDM2MCI+CiAgICAgIDxnIHRyYW5zZm9ybT0idHJhbnNsYXRlKDAsMzYwKSBzY2FsZSgwLjEsLTAuMSkiIGZpbGw9IiNCMkIyQjIiPgogICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xOTA1IDMxODIgYy0xMjYgLTQ0IC0xODcgLTEwMCAtMjUzIC0yMzMgbC00NyAtOTQgLTM1MCAtNSBjLTMyNiAtNQogICAgICAgIC0zNTQgLTYgLTQwMSAtMjYgLTE0NyAtNjAgLTI0NiAtMTgwIC0yNzQgLTMzMSAtMTQgLTc2IC0xNCAtMTY1OSAwIC0xNzM0IDMxCiAgICAgICAgLTE2NyAxNzMgLTMxMyAzMzggLTM0OCAzNyAtOCA0NzYgLTExIDE0OTAgLTExIDE1NDMgMCAxNDgwIC0yIDE1ODggNTAgMTA0IDUxCiAgICAgICAgMjAwIDE4MSAyMjQgMzA1IDggNDMgMTAgMzAwIDggOTEwIGwtMyA4NTAgLTIzIDU2IGMtNDcgMTEyIC0xNDEgMjA2IC0yNTIgMjUyCiAgICAgICAgLTUyIDIxIC03MiAyMiAtNDA1IDI3IGwtMzUwIDUgLTQ2IDk1IGMtNTQgMTEyIC0xMDYgMTY2IC0yMDcgMjEzIGwtNjcgMzIKICAgICAgICAtNDYwIDIgYy00MTYgMyAtNDY1IDEgLTUxMCAtMTV6IG05NzIgLTIzNyBjMTggLTEzIDUyIC02OCA5MyAtMTUwIDQyIC04MyA3NQogICAgICAgIC0xMzcgOTMgLTE1MCAyNyAtMTkgNDcgLTIwIDQxNSAtMjUgNDM4IC02IDQyNyAtNCA0ODcgLTg5IGwzMCAtNDMgMyAtODM2IGMyCiAgICAgICAgLTYxMCAwIC04NDggLTggLTg3NiAtMTcgLTU2IC01NCAtMTAyIC0xMDQgLTEyNSAtNDIgLTIxIC01MSAtMjEgLTE0ODggLTIxCiAgICAgICAgbC0xNDQ1IDAgLTQ0IDIzIGMtMjkgMTYgLTU0IDQwIC03NCA3MiBsLTMwIDQ4IDAgODUxIGMwIDg0NCAwIDg1MSAyMSA4OTEgMTEKICAgICAgICAyMiA0MCA1NCA2MyA3MCBsNDMgMzAgMzg4IDUgYzM2OSA1IDM5MCA2IDQxNyAyNSAxOCAxMyA1MCA2NCA4OCAxNDEgMzMgNjcgNjcKICAgICAgICAxMjkgNzUgMTM5IDM2IDQzIDUzIDQ1IDUxMiA0MiA0MjIgLTIgNDM4IC0zIDQ2NSAtMjJ6Ii8+CiAgICAgICAgPHBhdGggZD0iTTIzMDAgMjQ1MSBjLTM4MiAtNTQgLTY3MSAtMzYzIC02OTcgLTc0NiAtMjEgLTMxOCAxNjEgLTYyNyA0NTIKICAgICAgICAtNzY2IDEyNiAtNjAgMTg5IC03NCAzNTAgLTc0IDExOSAwIDE1MSA0IDIxNSAyMyAyNzYgODcgNDgwIDI5NiA1NTYgNTcyIDI1CiAgICAgICAgOTAgMjYgMjk5IDEgMzkwIC03OCAyODggLTMwMCA1MDkgLTU4OSA1ODQgLTcxIDE4IC0yMTYgMjcgLTI4OCAxN3ogbTI3MCAtMjQ5CiAgICAgICAgYzE5NyAtNjggMzM0IC0yMTQgMzg1IC00MDcgNzQgLTI4NyAtMTA0IC01OTkgLTM5MCAtNjg0IC0xMDEgLTMwIC0yNjcgLTI3CiAgICAgICAgLTM2MCA3IC0xNzQgNjQgLTMyNyAyNDAgLTM2NCA0MjAgLTYyIDMwNSAxMzUgNjA4IDQzOSA2NzcgODIgMTkgMjE1IDEyIDI5MAogICAgICAgIC0xM3oiLz4KICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgPC9zdmc+CiAgICA=" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
Spain won the first heat in 42.26 from Canada in 42.39, both teams also featuring team-members from the earlier mixed 4x100m &ndash; Mar&iacute;a Isabel P&eacute;rez and Ja&euml;l Bestu&eacute; for Spain, and Audrey Leduc and Marie-&Eacute;loise Leclair for Canada.
P&eacute;rez and Bestu&eacute; also starred on Spain&rsquo;s team that placed runner-up at last year&rsquo;s World Relays in Guangzhou and they will aim to go one better in tomorrow&rsquo;s final, but they won&rsquo;t be joined by last year&rsquo;s champions Great Britain &amp; NI as their quartet was disqualified from the second heat after a baton exchange outside the takeover zone.
China won that second heat in 42.62 and world indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso anchored Italy to second place in 42.94.
The final will also feature Poland (43.09) and Portugal, whose national record of 43.11 saw them qualify a women&rsquo;s 4x100m team for the World Athletics Championships for the first time, by just 0.003 of a second ahead of Switzerland.
Reigning Olympic and world champions USA finished fourth in their heat in 43.33 but will have another chance to race for World Championships qualification in the additional round on Sunday.
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays women's 4x100m final</h3>
Ht 1: Spain (42.26), Canada (42.39), Poland (43.09) Ht 2: China (42.62), Italy (42.94) Ht 3: Jamaica (41.96), Germany (42.44), Portugal (43.11) 
<h2>Canada run world lead as Botswana delight home crowd in men&rsquo;s 4x100m</h2>
The Canadian Olympic title-winning quartet of Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse reunited to run the fastest time in the world so far this year in the men&rsquo;s 4x100m heats.
Their 37.56 to win the second heat is just 0.06 off the time they ran to win that Olympic title in Paris and they will be joined in the final in Gaborone &ndash; as well as at the World Championships in Beijing &ndash; by their fellow Olympic medallists South Africa and Great Britain, who secured the top two spots in the third heat. Akani Simbine anchored the defending World Relays champions South Africa to a heat win in 37.68, while Romell Glave reached the finish line in 38.01 for Great Britain, denying China by just 0.01. Germany ran a national record to finish second to Canada in their heat, clocking 37.67.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f617071f0949f0d9529528.jpg" alt="Canada on their way to a world lead in the 4x100m in Gaborone" />
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Canada on their way to a world lead in the 4x100m in Gaborone (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
But it was the host nation who received the loudest cheers as Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo took Botswana from fourth to second place during the anchor leg of the first heat, crossing the finish line in front of passionate home fans in a national record of 37.96 to make the final and qualify his nation&rsquo;s first-ever men&rsquo;s 4x100m team for the World Athletics Championships.
That heat was won by world champions USA, Pjai Austin anchoring the team to heat victory in 37.77.
"I wouldn't say there was pressure. I am the one who put myself under pressure," said Tebogo, who formed part of Botswana's world 4x400m title-winning team in Tokyo. "I told them (his teammates) that they just need to bring the baton alive and I will give it my best. Looking at the youngsters we have here, for me it is all about getting them motivated and trying to push and grow as many 100m sprinters as possible. The 4x100m is something new that we would like to develop for the country so that we can also be there at every championship."
Netherlands finished third behind USA and Botswana, their time of 38.00 fast enough to see them progress to the final and achieve automatic World Championships qualification along with Australia &ndash; 2025 world indoor 60m silver medallist Lachlan Kennedy teaming up with Joshua Azzopardi, Christopher Ius and Rohan Browning to equal the Oceania record of 37.87.
<h3>Qualified for World Championships and progressing to World Relays men's 4x100m final</h3>
Ht 1: United States (37.77), Botswana (37.96), Netherlands (38.00) Ht 2: Canada (37.56), Germany (37.67), Australia 37.87 Ht 3: South Africa (37.68), Great Britain &amp; NI (38.01)
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
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The Jamaican quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton stormed to a mixed 4x100m world record* in the very first event of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

Jamaica set mixed 4x100m world record of 39.99 in Gaborone

Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo joined local children in Gaborone on Friday (1) for a special Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day activation on the eve of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.
Held in Tebogo&rsquo;s home country ahead of the first World Athletics Series event to take place in Botswana, the session marked the start of a month-long global celebration of <a href="https://worldathletics.org/kids-athletics/ka-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day</a>.&nbsp;
Friday&rsquo;s session with Tebogo brought together local children for an introduction to athletics through games, movement-based activities and relay-inspired challenges, connecting them with the sport before the world&rsquo;s leading relay teams compete at the National Stadium this weekend.
Delivered in partnership with the Botswana Athletics Association, the event formed part of the build-up to the World Athletics Relays.
Tebogo, a Kids&rsquo; Athletics ambassador, took part in the session and encouraged the children to enjoy sport, stay active and dream big.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all about the kids, it&rsquo;s not about me,&rdquo; said Tebogo. &ldquo;What I do is for the kids. Many of them don&rsquo;t have enough resources to help them pursue their dreams, so I try to meet them halfway and help ensure everything falls into place.&rdquo;
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/kids-athletics/kids-athletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kids&rsquo; Athletics</a>, World Athletics&rsquo; flagship participation programme for children, is designed to develop fundamental movement and athletics skills in a fun, safe and inclusive way, using the power of athletics to inspire children around the world to be more active.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said Kids&rsquo; Athletics plays an important role in introducing children not just to athletics, but to the physical skills that can help them in sport more widely.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f4b11252499bbed3d5ed79.jpg" alt="The Kids' Athletics activation in Gaborone" />
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The Kids' Athletics activation in Gaborone (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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&ldquo;Kids&rsquo; Athletics builds on a really important platform,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;Athletics is the queen of all sports. It requires every element of physical literacy &ndash; the same skills and movement patterns young people need for football, rugby, tennis or whatever sport they choose.
&ldquo;Introducing those skills, those physical qualities and those patterns of exercise at a young age is really critical. That is what Kids&rsquo; Athletics does. It does a lot more than just introduce young people to athletics.&rdquo;
Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day is celebrated annually on 7 May and provides a global moment in the calendar for children, schools, clubs, coaches, teachers, families and Member Federations to celebrate the values of movement, learning, inclusion, sustainability and community.
Since its launch in 2022, Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day has grown into a global celebration, reaching 1.3 million children across schools, clubs and communities. This year, World Athletics is celebrating five years of Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day with a campaign running throughout May.
The campaign follows the recent launch of the Kids&rsquo; Athletics app, a free digital resource designed to make Kids&rsquo; Athletics activities more accessible to children, schools, clubs, coaches, teachers and families around the world.
Available on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.worldathletics.kidsathletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id6756413635" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple</a> devices, the app provides easy access to Kids&rsquo; Athletics activities, videos and session plans, including resources that can be used offline, helping to support participation in a wide range of settings.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f4b19252499bbed3d5ed7c.jpg" alt="Letsile Tebogo at the Kids' Athletics activation" />
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Letsile Tebogo at the Kids' Athletics activation (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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The celebrations in Gaborone will continue during the Debswana World Athletics Relays on 2-3 May, when local children involved in Kids&rsquo; Athletics will have the chance to play a special role on the competition stage.
As part of the Baton Kids activation, children will be positioned on the start line for selected relay races, each holding a baton to hand over to athletes running the opening leg.
The initiative has been designed to give children a memorable connection with the world&rsquo;s best relay runners and to place youth participation at the heart of the event experience.
For Tebogo, Botswana&rsquo;s recent relay success has already shown how elite performance can inspire the next generation.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve witnessed first-hand how winning medals has opened a lot of doors for youngsters who want to pursue athletics as their dream,&rdquo; said Tebogo. &ldquo;Athletics helped me stay off the streets and out of trouble, and it has continued to give me so many opportunities. Being involved with Kids&rsquo; Athletics is one of them and I hope to show young people why they should dream big and have fun doing this sport.&rdquo;
World Athletics

Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo joined local children in Gaborone on Friday (1) for a special Kids’ Athletics activation on the eve of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.

Tebogo launches Kids’ Athletics celebrations in Gaborone ahead of World Relays

History will be made in Botswana this weekend as the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 sees the global competition take place in Africa for the first time.
During the pre-event press conference on Friday (1), World Athletics President Sebastian Coe reinforced the significance of the competition and its journey.
&ldquo;I love moments like this because, by background, I'm a historian, and I like to be part of historic moments,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;The very fact that these relays are coming to Africa for the first time means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to the continent. This is a continent that has, over the last 50 years, delivered in such passion and such talent extraordinary athletes into our sport. The history of athletics in this continent is in large part the history of world athletics in the last half century.
&ldquo;I'm delighted that this cements some really important assets. The first is the opportunity to use this event as a way of demonstrating that Africa has come of age &ndash; it is a continent where we genuinely want to share our championships; our big explosive moments. I also want this to be inspirational. I want it to be an inspiration for the young people sitting in that stadium that are, I hope, going to be following in the footsteps of the great athletes that we have here.&rdquo;
Coe also highlighted the importance of the competition as the main qualification event for relays at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September and next year&rsquo;s World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.
&ldquo;There is a bit of jeopardy here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The prize pot ups the ante. We have roughly 700 athletes from about 40 countries here, which is a great turnout.
&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t thank you enough &ndash; the athletes, the Botswana athletics federation and the LOC, our sponsors, the volunteers, and the media for being here this morning.&rdquo;
Coe was joined on the stage by LOC Chair Martin&nbsp;Mokgwathi and Debswana Diamond Company Corporate Affairs Manager Keamogetse Sampson, who both shared their pride and delight in welcoming the world to Botswana for the World Relays.
&ldquo;Fortunately for us, World Athletics permitted us to host this event, as the first African nation to do it,&rdquo; said Mokgwathi. &ldquo;We are very excited about it and thankful for the opportunity. We represent Botswana but we also represent the African continent, so we are trying to make this the best athletics event that we can.
&ldquo;Enjoy Botswana and don&rsquo;t just stay in the stadium &ndash; there are so many other sights to see.&rdquo;
Speaking of the involvement of title sponsor Debswana, Sampson said: &ldquo;Our tagline has always been: &lsquo;mining diamonds to enrich the nation&rsquo;. Our mission is to be a global benchmark. More than anything, we have a purpose &ndash; to make life brilliant. We do that by ensuring that the revenue from diamonds sponsors national progress.
&ldquo;We hope that this will be a spectacular event &ndash; that you don&rsquo;t only enjoy the event itself, but that you also have the opportunity to tour this diamond city and the diamond country.&rdquo;
Inspiring the next generation was a key theme of the press conference and is an important aspect of the World Relays and its associated activities.
Home star Letsile Tebogo, Botswana&rsquo;s Olympic 200m and world 4x400m champion, joined the press conference ahead of leading an activation with young athletes in his role as Kids&rsquo; Athletics ambassador.
&ldquo;When we won that medal (world 4x400m gold in Tokyo) it opened a lot of doors for youngsters who want to pursue athletics as their dream,&rdquo; he said.
The competition in Gaborone also offers opportunity to the country&rsquo;s rising athletics stars, including Tebogo&rsquo;s teammates in the 4x100m.
&ldquo;The focus (for Tebogo in Gaborone) is the 4x100m and trying to introduce it into championships,&rdquo; said Tebogo. &ldquo;The main goal is to make it to the final. It&rsquo;s a new team with youngsters who I really believe in.&rdquo;
Tebogo sat alongside South Africa&rsquo;s Olympic 4x100m silver medallist Akani&nbsp;Simbine, who is another athlete using his profile to develop the sport in his country.
A few days on from organising a Continental Tour Silver meeting &ndash; the Simbine Classic &ndash; in Pretoria, he said: &ldquo;We had close to 1000 kids that were competing and they became the stars of the day. It&rsquo;s all for the development of sports in the country and for bringing athletics to South Africa and the African continent.&rdquo;
South Africa won the men&rsquo;s 4x100m at the last edition of the World Relays and Simbine added: &ldquo;Botswana is next door, so this counts as home. It is good to be able to come here and defend the title. For us, it feels like we are running at home.&rdquo;
Italy&rsquo;s Zaynab&nbsp;Dosso is also pleased that her nation&rsquo;s performances are helping to shine a spotlight on the sport.
&ldquo;In Italy there is a football obsession, but I am very happy that the focus is moving towards athletics,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We want to prove that Italian athletes are worthy of the front pages.&rdquo;
Performances like her own world indoor 60m title win in Poland in March are getting the attention they deserve, and Dosso added that a large part of her development has been her mental approach.
&ldquo;I was expecting way too much of myself in previous years,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This year I am going to work on my mental preparation.&rdquo;
For five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, the competition is an important milestone as she continues her comeback after injury.
&ldquo;Being here in Botswana to compete with the world, I&rsquo;m excited and ready to have fun,&rdquo; she said.
The event also offers Thompson-Herah&rsquo;s Jamaican team the chance to secure qualification for next year&rsquo;s World Championships, which could see Thompson-Herah return to Beijing 12 years on from winning her first global medals in China&rsquo;s capital.
&ldquo;It would be a good feeling going back to the Bird's Nest,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I am looking forward to helping my team to qualify to go there. We&rsquo;re going for it.&rdquo;
Lieke Klaver has won multiple Olympic and world medals as part of the Dutch women&rsquo;s and mixed 4x400m teams and she is also excited to help her nation to secure championship spots. Whether that is in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m, the mixed 4x400m or even the 4x100m is yet to be decided.
&ldquo;Everything is possible,&rdquo; she smiled. &ldquo;I am here if I am needed.&rdquo; On her love for relay running, she added: &ldquo;I run well when I am a bit tired, so when I do relays it makes me a bit tired, and I keep running better and better. I just love running with the girls or the mixed team.&rdquo;
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History will be made in Botswana this weekend as the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 sees the global competition take place in Africa for the first time.

World Relays marks milestone as Gaborone brings global athletics celebration to Africa

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable/bydiscipline/mixed/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timetable</a> |&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-athletics-relays-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Relays records</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/relays/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4x400m explainer</a>
 The United States &ndash; world champions, world record-holders and defending World Relays winners &ndash; will be the team to beat in the mixed 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May), but recent results suggest the contest could be far from straightforward.
Twelve teams will automatically secure places for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27. Eight teams &ndash; the top two in each of the three heats and the next two quickest &ndash; will guarantee their qualification on day one and advance to the final. The remaining teams will return for the additional round on day two, where four more teams &ndash; the top two in each of the two heats &ndash; will also secure spots for Beijing. The day two finals will decide World Championships seeding positions and prize money. In addition, the top six teams in Gaborone will automatically secure their spots for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f20dc6d2082b55a3456404.jpg" alt="WRE Gaborone 26 where to watch banner" /></a>
The mixed event is the only 4x400m discipline USA will contest in Gaborone, and their track record makes them the obvious benchmark. They won at the World Relays in 2019 and 2024, then retained the title last year in a competition record of 3:09.54 &ndash; their only victory at the 2025 World Relays.
They went on to claim the world title in Tokyo, but a baton blunder took them out of contention at this year&rsquo;s World Indoor Championships. That will give the US squad an added incentive to reassert itself in Gaborone.
Two-time Olympic 4x400m champion Bryce Deadmon, a double world relay gold medallist and member of USA&rsquo;s mixed 4x400m world record team, is named in the squad along with Jenoah McKiver. Both athletes were part of the US team at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, giving the squad proven quality and relay experience.
The Netherlands have been USA&rsquo;s main rivals in this event in recent years, most memorably claiming Olympic gold in 2024. Without Femke Bol on the squad in Gaborone, though, they may struggle to match the USA&rsquo;s top-end speed.
Recency matters a lot in relays, and the World Indoor Championships earlier this year could provide a useful form guide.
Belgium won the inaugural world indoor mixed 4x400m title, building on the world bronze they won last year. Their squad for Gaborone features 2024 world indoor 400m champion Alexander Doom.
Spain, the world indoor silver medallists, have also become increasingly competitive across the relay disciplines. They could be a factor in the mixed 4x400m in Gaborone, particularly if they reproduce the kind of sharp execution they showed indoors and at the 2025 World Relays.
Poland, world indoor bronze medallists this year and Olympic champions in 2021, bring significant pedigree. They have long been one of the most reliable nations in mixed 4x400m running and will be aiming to turn that experience into another strong World Relays performance.
Great Britain and NI claimed Olympic bronze in 2024 and are the third-fastest nation in history behind USA and the Netherlands. If they can navigate the rounds cleanly, they should be firmly in the contest for the leading places.
Italy, winners of this event at the 2021 World Relays when USA did not enter, also have a strong history in the mixed 4x400m and will be looking to return to contention in Gaborone.
Australia finished second at last year&rsquo;s World Relays ahead of Kenya, the current world leaders. Both teams will be looking to recapture their form from 12 months ago.
Jamaica, world silver medallists in 2019, also have the talent to be in the mix.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
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Expected highlights in the mixed 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 

WRE Gaborone 26 preview: USA seek more success in mixed 4x400m

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable/bydiscipline/men/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timetable</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/toplists/relays/4x400-metres-relay/all/men/senior/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2026 world list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/relays/4x400-metres-relay/all/men/senior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world all-time list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-athletics-relays-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Relays records</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/relays/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4x400m explainer</a>
 Host nation Botswana will want to put on a show when they reignite their rivalry with South Africa and Belgium in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May).
Those teams have secured the top three spots at the past two editions of the World Relays &ndash; in Nassau in 2024 and Guangzhou in 2025 &ndash; and they will clash again at the National Stadium, where glory, prize money and World Championships qualification is up for grabs.
Twelve federations will automatically secure their spots for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27. Eight teams &ndash; the top two in each of the&nbsp;three heats and the next two quickest&nbsp;&ndash; will qualify on day one in Gaborone. The remaining teams will return for the additional round on day two, where four more teams &ndash; the top two in each of the two heats &ndash; will also book places for Beijing. The day two finals will decide World Championships seeding positions and prize money.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f20dc6d2082b55a3456404.jpg" alt="WRE Gaborone 26 where to watch banner" /></a>
Botswana line up as the world champions following the victory by Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi last year in Tokyo. World 400m champion Kebinatshipi, world 400m bronze medallist Ndori and Eppie are listed specifically for the men&rsquo;s 4x400m in Gaborone &ndash; along with Leungo Scotch who ran in the heats in Tokyo &ndash; while Olympic 200m champion Tebogo is included in the wider squad.
With USA not fielding a team in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m, Botswana also start as the leading team from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. There, Kebinatshipi teamed up with Tebogo, Ndori and Anthony Pesela to secure silver in an African record of 2:54.53.
Now Botswana will have sights set on regaining the World Relays crown in front of home fans and securing their spot for a world title defence in Beijing next year.
It&rsquo;s South Africa who start as the defending World Relays winners as Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene won in Guangzhou last year ahead of Belgium and Botswana. They all star in the squad again this time, joined by 2022 world U20 400m champion Lythe Pillay who ran in the heats in Guangzhou and then formed part of his nation&rsquo;s world bronze medal-winning quartet in Tokyo along with Okon, Nene and Wayde van Niekerk.
As well as making the podium at the past two World Relays, Belgium are two-time world bronze medallists and they also claimed world indoor silver in Kujawy Pomorze in March. Jonathan Sacoor, Christian Iguacel, Julien Watrin, Alexander Doom, Robin Vanderbemden and Dylan Borl&eacute;e were on that silver medal-winning squad and they have all been selected for Gaborone across the men&rsquo;s and mixed 4x400m teams.
Great Britain and NI bagged Olympic bronze behind USA and Botswana in Paris and will want to make their mark again with a squad that stars two of the members of that team: Charlie Dobson and Alex Haydock-Wilson, while Lewis Davey has been named for the mixed event.
Jamaica are 2025 and 2026 world indoor medallists, fresh from adding bronze behind Belgium in Kujawy Pomorze to their silver from Nanjing, and they should also be in the mix with a squad that includes 2023 world 400m champion Antonio Watson.
Netherlands won ahead of Japan and Botswana at the 2021 World Relays and went on to secure Olympic silver that year in Tokyo. Both federations will join Botswana in Gaborone.
Other finalists from the World Championships in Tokyo &ndash; Qatar and Portugal &ndash; will also be among those seeking qualification for Beijing, along with last year&rsquo;s World Relays finalists Kenya and China.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
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Expected highlights in the men's 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

WRE Gaborone 26 preview: Botswana, South Africa and Belgium renew rivalry in men's 4x400m

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable/bydiscipline/women/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timetable</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/toplists/relays/4x400-metres-relay/all/women/senior/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2026 world list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/relays/4x400-metres-relay/all/women/senior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world all-time list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-athletics-relays-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Relays records</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/relays/4x400-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4x400m explainer</a>
 With world and Olympic champions USA not fielding a team in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m, the contest for podium places, prize money and World Championships qualification at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May) has been thrown wide open.
Twelve teams will automatically secure places for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27. Eight teams &ndash; the top two in each of the three heats and the next two quickest&nbsp;&ndash; will guarantee their qualification on day one and advance to the final. The remaining teams will return for the additional round on day two, where four more teams &ndash; the top two in each of the two heats &ndash; will also secure spots for Beijing. The day two finals will decide World Championships seeding positions and prize money.
In the absence of the USA, Jamaica will be among the teams looking to take advantage. The world silver medallists have named a squad that includes three strong 400m hurdles talents in two-time world bronze medallist Rushell Clayton, Olympic finalist Shiann Salmon and 2023 world finalist Andrenette Knight.
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The Netherlands, meanwhile, bring one of the strongest recent relay records in the field. World bronze medallists last year, Olympic silver medallists in 2024, world indoor silver medallists this year, 2023 world champions and two-time European champions, they have repeatedly shown their ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Femke Bol is not part of their squad for Gaborone, but world indoor bronze medallist Lieke Klaver brings vast relay experience, having earned nine global medals as part of Dutch relay teams.
Spain produced one of the standout performances of last year&rsquo;s World Relays, beating USA to victory in a national record of 3:24.13. They were unable to reproduce that form at the World Championships, where they narrowly missed out on the final, but made amends at the World Indoor Championships this year by taking bronze.
Poland, winners of the women&rsquo;s 4x400m at the 2019 World Relays and runners-up in 2024, also have plenty of pedigree. Their team includes Justyna Swiety-Ersetic, who competed at the 2014 edition of the World Relays, and Olympic 400m bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka.
Great Britain and NI will be looking to build on the momentum of their Olympic bronze medal in 2024. Lina Nielsen and Nicole Yeargin &ndash; both members of Britain&rsquo;s Olympic relay team two years ago &ndash; are the most experienced members of their squad and will be central to their hopes of progressing through the rounds and securing an automatic place in Beijing.
Belgium finished fourth at last year&rsquo;s World Championships. While their squad for Gaborone features only one member of that team, their recent record suggests they cannot be ruled out.
Norway and France finished sixth and seventh respectively at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, and both have named the same quartets that competed in that final. Norway&rsquo;s squad is led by Henriette Jaeger and Amalie Iuel, while France will aim to make the most of their continuity as they chase another global final place.
Czechia&rsquo;s roster features world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel, whose individual quality could make them a factor in the qualification race.
Canada, regular global finalists and third at the 2024 World Relays, return with the aim of maintaining that consistency, while South Africa will hope to match their third-place finish at last year&rsquo;s World Relays.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
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Expected highlights in the women's 4x400m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

WRE Gaborone 26 preview: Jamaica, Netherlands and Spain lead wide-open women’s 4x400m

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable/bydiscipline/mixed/4x100-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timetable</a> |&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-athletics-relays-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Relays records</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/relays/4x100-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4x100m explainer</a>
 The mixed 4x100m made its global debut last year and 24 federations will battle for glory and qualification places when the event returns at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May).
The top six teams in Gaborone will automatically secure their spots for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September, while 12 teams will qualify for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27, and competition in the newest discipline on the World Relays programme is set to be fierce.
While certain athletes have been listed specifically for the mixed 4x100m, any athlete named for any event could also be drafted into the squad for another discipline in Gaborone.
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Canada won the inaugural World Relays title in Guangzhou last year as Sade McCreath, Marie-&Eacute;lo&iuml;se Leclair, Duan Asemota and Eliezer Adjibi combined to clock 40.30. While McCreath and Leclair are not specifically listed for the mixed event this time, they will be in Gaborone and could be included in the team.
Jamaica finished second and Great Britain placed third in Guangzhou and they also return.
Jamaica&rsquo;s team includes twins Tia and Tina Clayton, who formed part of their nation&rsquo;s silver medal-winning women's team at the World Championships in Tokyo last year. The wider squad features five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, two-time world champion Shericka Jackson and 2024 Diamond League 100m champion Ackeem Blake.
Kissiwaa Mensah and Jeriel Quainoo were on the British team that placed third and they are among the entries again, along with two-time Olympic and 2017 world relay medallist Desir&egrave;e Henry and 2022 world medallist Jona Efoloko.
USA are the reigning world champions in both the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x100m and two different US quartets have the two fastest mixed relay times of the season so far &ndash; 40.84 and 40.93, both set in Gainesville at the start of April.&nbsp;
Double NCAA champion Samirah Moody and Max Thomas formed part of the world-leading team and they star on the squad for Gaborone. They are set to be joined by multiple world and Olympic 4x400m medallist Elija Godwin and world indoor 4x400m champion Paris Peoples, who formed part of the second-placed women&rsquo;s 4x400m team in Guangzhou where a baton exchange mishap ended the nation's hopes of making the mixed 4x100m final.
Jamaica ran 41.24 in Miramar on the same day as those US performances, while Australia clocked 41.26 at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne in March. Jacob Despard, Chloe Mannix-Power and Christopher Ius featured on that team and in Gaborone the squad is further strengthened by world U20 200m champion Torrie Lewis and 2025 world indoor 60m silver medallist Lachlan Kennedy, who ran a 100m PB of 9.96 earlier this month. They will be looking to go at least one better than their performance in Guangzhou, to make the podium in Gaborone.
Italy, France, China and Belgium also made the final in Guangzhou and race again in Gaborone.
New Zealand will be represented at the World Relays for the first time. Oceanian record-holder Zoe Hobbs, Tiaan Whelpton, Brooke Somerfield and Lex Revell-Lewis combined to run 41.30 in Auckland and they are all on the squad for Gaborone.
Nigeria already has experience of a mixed 4x100m win at Gaborone&rsquo;s National Stadium as their team ran 41.44 to triumph ahead of Kenya at the Lefika International Relays at the end of March, when host nation Botswana finished fourth. They will all battle again at the World Relays. Other teams to look out for include Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
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Expected highlights in the mixed 4x100m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 

WRE Gaborone 26 preview: stars ready to race for championship places in mixed 4x100m

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-relays/gaborone26/timetable/bydiscipline/men/4x100-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timetable</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/toplists/relays/4x100-metres-relay/all/men/senior/2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2026 world list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/relays/4x100-metres-relay/all/men/senior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world all-time list</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-athletics-relays-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Relays records</a> | <a href="https://worldathletics.org/disciplines/relays/4x100-metres-relay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4x100m explainer</a>
 World champions USA, Olympic champions Canada and defending World Relays winners South Africa will clash in one of the most eagerly anticipated events at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 this weekend (2-3 May), as the race for men&rsquo;s 4x100m podium places, prize money and World Championships qualification gets under way.
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 &ndash; the top two teams in each of the three heats and the next two quickest&nbsp;on day one and then the top two teams in each of the two heats of the additional round on day two.
All five nations to have won the men&rsquo;s 4x100m at the World Relays &ndash; USA, Jamaica, Brazil, Italy and South Africa &ndash; are among the 22 teams entered, underlining the depth of the field.
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USA &ndash; the most successful nation in the history of the men&rsquo;s 4x100m at the World Relays with victories in 2015, 2017 and 2024 &ndash; will start as the favourites, and they&rsquo;ll be keen to avenge their defeat from last year.
Their team might be missing the likes of Olympic champion Noah Lyles and world indoor champion Jordan Anthony, but it is still loaded with speed and relay experience.
Courtney Lindsey and Kyree King have been teammates at the past two editions of the World Relays, teaming up to take victory in 2024 in 37.40 &ndash; just 0.02 shy of the USA&rsquo;s competition record from 2015. They recently joined forces to run 37.86 in Gainesville, the fastest time this year by a single nation.
Lindsey has PBs of 9.82 for 100m and 19.71 for 200m, while King has a 100m best of 9.96.
Ronnie Baker and Pjai Austin also sharpen the US threat. Baker, the 2018 world indoor 60m bronze medallist, was part of the US team that won at the 2017 World Relays, while Austin has a 100m PB of 9.89. They recently teamed up, also in Gainesville, to run 37.97.
Brandon Carnes, who helped USA to the world title in 2023, adds further experience to a squad expected to feature prominently again.
Canada has entered the four men who claimed Olympic gold in Paris and world silver in Tokyo: Andre De Grasse, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown.
The quartet has proved itself to be one of the most reliable teams in global sprint relay running. Blake and De Grasse have already shown strong form in the host city this season, warming up for the World Relays with impressive performances at the recent Botswana Grand Prix. Blake won the 100m in a PB of 9.93 for 100m, while De Grasse finished second in 9.95 and won the 200m in 19.84 &ndash; his fastest times in several years.
South Africa, meanwhile, return as defending World Relays winners after their victory in Guangzhou last year. They also secured Olympic silver in Paris, and three members of their winning team from Guangzhou &ndash; Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine &ndash; are on this year&rsquo;s squad.
Simbine remains one of the most consistent sprinters in the world, while South Africa&rsquo;s recent relay record suggests they have become a genuine force in this event.
Jamaica won the men&rsquo;s 4x100m at the inaugural World Relays in 2014 and finished second one year later, but they have not made the podium since. Based on pure speed, though, they have the potential to contend for top honours.
Ackeem Blake, winner of the 2024 Diamond League Final, is one of four men on the squad with a sub-10-second PB, along with Rohan Watson, Kadrian Goldson and Ryiem Forde.
Great Britain and NI also have several proven relay performers among their entries. World indoor 60m champion Jeremiah Azu, Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake were all part of the team that earned Olympic bronze in 2024 and return to relay duty in Gaborone.
Brazil won the men&rsquo;s 4x100m at the 2019 World Relays and set their national record of 37.72 at the World Championships later that year. Since then, they have cultivated two sub-10 sprinters in Erik Cardoso and Felipe Bardi, giving them the individual speed to challenge again.
Italy, another past World Relays winner in this discipline, will also be among the teams looking to make an impact. Their 2021 success came just a few months before they claimed Olympic victory in Tokyo, and they remain part of the event&rsquo;s recent history.
Australia set a national record of 37.87 last year and have already run 38.34 this season, making them the second-fastest nation in the world this year behind USA.
World bronze medallists Netherlands, who set a national record of 37.81 in Tokyo last year, also return with podium credentials.
Botswana will have the backing of the home crowd and their squad includes Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, ensuring they will be one of the most closely watched teams in Gaborone.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
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Expected highlights in the men's 4x100m at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

Budapest and Beijing qualifiers confirmed at Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

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USA regain men’s 4x100m title in Gaborone

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