Bershawn Jackson of the United States passes the baton to Angelo Taylor in the men's 4x400m relay heats (© Getty Images)
As usual the USA will be the team to beat as they seek a fourth successive World title in this event.
Even shorn of the injured two-time former World 400m champion Jeremy Wariner – who withdrew from the championships with an injured foot earlier this month – a squad boasting the likes of national champion Tony McQuay and defending World 400m champion LaShawn Merritt will be a formidable force.
There will be joined in the squad by the likes of Greg Nixon (44.98) and Jaamal Torrance (45.11) who have featured in each of the USA’s last two World Indoor 4x400m winning teams. While adding further strength in depth will be two-time former Olympic 400m hurdles champion Angelo Taylor, a 44.05 400m flat runner at his best, and fellow 400m hurdler Bershawn Jackson a 2010 World indoor 4x400m gold medallist.
Their main opposition will come from the Caribbean nations with the Bahamas, the 2005 and 2007 World silver medallists, expected to figure prominently. World indoor champion Chris Brown (44.79) will be expected to lead their quest and with Demetrius Pinder (44.78) and Ramon Miller (45.34) to call upon their will be competitive.
Trinidad & Tobago (3:01.65) are also expected to be in the scrap led by their 2009 World bronze medallist Renny Quow (45.43) and supported by the likes of Zwede Hewitt (45.51).
Watch out too for the Jamaicans (3:02.00) spearheaded by Jermaine Gonzales (44.69) who will be joined by a number of athletes who have ran in the mid 45s this season.
Expect a lot of attention to be thrust on amputee athlete and four-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius who will feature in a strong-looking South African squad. Pistorius, who runs on carbon-fibre blades, will be joined in the squad by the likes of 400m hurdles World leader L.J van Zyl (44.86) and Lebogang Moeng (45.47) so expect them to figure.
The quickest team from Europe this year are Belgium (3:01.59) powered by sub-45 second 400m sprinters the Borlee twins: Kevin and Jonathan.
Also look for European Team Championship winners Russia, France, the 2009 World silver medallists Great Britain, Poland, Germany (3:04.10) and the 2009 World bronze medallists, Australia.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
