A dramatic first day in China saw clashes, debuts and fierce battles for the relay rating
The World Relay Championships in Guangzhou began on May 10 when the relay teams around the world fought for a place in the World Athletics Championship of 2025 in Tokyo.
The 14 best finalists in each of the 4x100m and 4x400m relay for men and women, plus the mixed 4x400m, reserve their tickets to Tokyo. Two additional points in each event will be awarded later through the World Athletics Rankings system, which is based on performance points throughout the season.
There was a new event created in Guangzhou when the mixed 4x100M relay made its international debut. The event, designed with a fixed career order, two women who lead, followed by two men, prepared the stage for an exciting beginning for world relays.
Despite the introduction, the mixed 4x100M feature won in Tokyo 2025, which means that there are no places of rating at stake. However, the event will be included in the next 2026 World Athletics Championship in Budapest.
The drama developed early in the initial heat when the United States suffered a cane between its second and third athletes, eliminating them from the final. Heat Two offered a strong battle between Great Britain and Jamaica. The British Quartet of NIA Wedderburn-Goodison, Kissiwaa Mensah, Jeriel Quainao and Joe Ferguson executed soft changes for batons, but Jamaica advanced in the final stretch thanks to the host eruption that recorded 41.04 while Great Britain 5. Both teams advanced to the final.
Great Britain also impressed in the 4x400m mixed relay, based on its success of the bronze medal of the Paris Olympic Games. This time, the team presented Josh Faulds, Emily Newnham, Sam Lunt and Nicole Yeargin with Faululds and Newnham who previously won European cover silver earlier this year. Anheargin driven through the anchor leg, surpassing Zeny van der Walt in South Africa to finish in 3: 13.28 and ensure a place in the final, along with the Tokyo 2025 rating.
The United States exceeded 4x400m heating with a time of 3: 11.37, while Ireland secured secondly in 3: 12.56 after a strong final stage of Sharlene Mawdsley.
Meanwhile, 4x100m heats for women brought unexpected twists. Jamaica welcomed the Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pyce and Sherickka Jackson stars, but it was Spain who surprised the crowd when winning against Jamaica in a national record of 42.18. Jamaica still advanced as the fastest classification with 42.51.
Belgium, the third classification with 42.80, delayed Great Britain in its heat. Despite a great effort of Desiree Henry in the final stage after receiving the witness at the head, Delphine Nkansa of Belgium came forward. Even so, Henry’s British squad, Bianca Williams, Amy Hunt and Asha Phillip obtained a place of world championships with a time of 42.92.
In the male 4x100m, Great Britain assured a direct victory in its heat. Even with the world champion of 60m Indoor Jeremiah Azu absent, Romell Glave’s team, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jona Efoloko and Eugene Amo-Dadzie offered a clean performance, ending in 38.18 to beat Poland.
The second male heat saw more distress anguish when Jamaica’s alignment was seen as a star or Rohan Watson, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Kishane Thompson lost the exchange of batons at the same point where the United States had dropped their own in the mixed race. As a result, Olympic medalist Thompson could never run, and the team will now try to qualify through the repechant.
The advantage of South Africa of Jamaica’s error, assaulting the victory in 37.84 with Akani Simbine Anchoring. Japan coincides with that time to qualify as the second fastest, while the United States was third in general with 37.86.
In the 4x400m female, Great Britain faced a disappointment. Despite being Olympic bronze medalists, third parties ended in their heat with 3: 27.47, behind Spain and Italy, and did not automatically describe or as one of the two fastest non -automatic qualifiers. Now they will have to compete in the repetition to pursue a place in the World Championship.
The United States led the female 4x400m classifiers with 3: 26.05, while Spain continued its strong performance with the second time faster of 3: 26.25.
On the male side of 4x400m, South Africa registered the fastest time in general with a clean 3: 00.00. France came next, winning its heat at 3: 00.30, ahead of Kenya and the United States, since the latter lost the automatic rating and will go to the repetition.
Great Britain, however, assured his place in Tokyo. The Efekemo Okoro quartet, Toby Harries, Rio Mitcham and Charlie Dobson registered 31: 01.38 in their heat behind the 3: 01.35 of Belgium. They had to go fight for him, since there was a little physicist between Ammar Ismar Ismar Ismar Ibrahim from Qatar, Ismar Ismar Yahia Ibrahim, with Qatar ending third in 3: 03.97.
The World Relays finals will be broadcast live on BBC Iplayer at 12:05 PM BST on Sunday, May 11.
