GUANGZHOU, CHINA, May 10–11 – An intermittent rain,which ranged from light to pretty substantial greeted more than 700 athletes at the seventh edition — and the second to be held in Asia — of the World Relays,. It also completed quite a trifecta of WA meets in China to begin ’25 as it directly followed successive Diamond League outings in Xiamen and Shaoxing. While the showers dampened the Day 1 heats, fair weather ruled on the second.
The success of the South African men, winning the 4×1 with Akani Simbine’s blazing anchor, then roaring to the 4×4 gold with a national record, was one big story line. The emergence of Spain’s women, who nearly held on to the 4×1 title then surged to the 4×4 gold, was another.
But perhaps the most prominent storyline was the relative lack of trips to the podium for Team USA. In the previous five editions the Americans had never earned fewer than four golds and four total medals (they skipped the ’21 edition due to COVID concerns). This weekend’s count was one gold — on a rather stellar performance in the mixed 4×4 — and tough silver medal finishes behind South Africa in the men’s 4×1 and Spain in the women’s 4×4. As for the rest, the slate included one dropped baton (mixed 4×1), a 4th (women’s 4×1) and a men’s 4×4 squad that missed making the final (but earned WC qualification in the repechage round).
The consolation for the Americans was that without many of its biggest names, this meet can’t necessarily be considered a harbinger of things to come in Tokyo this summer. As 4×1 second leg Kenny Bednarek said, “The main part was getting us qualified [for Tokyo] and we did that. We’ll go back to the drawing board to see what we can do for Tokyo. Next time we step on the track, we’re going to expect gold.”
The eight finalists in the men’s and women’s 4x1s and 4x4s, plus the mixed 4×4, earned automatic Tokyo qualifiers. The second or “repechage” rounds allowed six more to get in each event for a total of 14.
MEN
4 x 100: The Americans had three of their four pieces from their ’24 World Relay gold medalists. The difference was that last year’s squad was anchored by Noah Lyles; this year’s by Brandon Hicklin. Consequently, several squads were in the mix to win, including Canada — which sported its entire Olympic gold-medal-winning squad.
After Britain won the first heat in 38.18, South Africa established it would be a factor with a world-leading 37.84 triumph in the second. It was the Jamaicans who would have trouble here, as Julian Forte pulled up before he could get the baton to Yohan Blake. The nation’s biggest men’s star, Kishane Thompson, never got to touch a stick.
Then Japan matched South Africa’s mark and topped the Canadians (38.13) in heat 3. Team USA was up in the final heat, with Courtney Lindsey, Grand Slam-dominating Bednarek and Kyree King preceding Hicklin. The performance was mercifully drama free, as the quartet rolled to a 37.86 ahead of Italy (38.16).
The U.S. — with the same foursome — was even better in the final, making good passes and hitting 37.66. But South Africa — silver medalists behind Canada in Paris — was better yet. Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile and Bradley Nkoana put the quartet in strong contention. Anchor Akani Simbine, the veteran 9.82 performer and 4th-place finisher in the Olympic 100, steadily reeled in Hicklin and overtook him in the final 20m for the winning and world-leading 37.61 — just 0.04 off his country’s NR. Canada grabbed the bronze in 38.11.
“Once I got the baton and I saw that USA was in front of us, I just said to myself, ‘I need to catch the guy in front,’” Simbine said. “I knew I could do it, and I just chased him. I feed from being able to chase.”
4 x 400: That South Africa was going to have at least a strong chance at making two men’s podiums was evident in the first heat with its WL 3:00.00. China thrilled the home fans in 2nd with an NR 3:01.87. Paris silver-medal-winning Botswana, still strong without Tebogo, took heat 2 in 3:01.23.
Belgium, with ’24 World Indoor 400 champ Alexander Doom overtaking Charles Dobson and Great Britain, 3:01.35–3:01.38, claimed the third heat. Then the U.S. was up in the final heat, sporting young guns anchored by Elija Godwin. It wasn’t enough firepower in drenching conditions. France (3:00.30) and Kenya (3:00.88) advanced and Team USA (3:01.23) was left looking to the second rounds for salvation.
The final was a strong and fast 5-team battle. The South Africans, with an unheralded lineup that included Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene, had two of its foursome that was 5th in Paris with an NR 2:58.12, Isaacs and Nene. The former led off with 45.39, in 4th with Great Britain (Toby Harries 44.96) leading. Okon followed with 44.24, the best of the second legs, to put them in 2nd behind Botswana.
Then Koekemoer, even faster at 44.23, took South Africa to the lead at the bell (2:13.86), with David Sombe (44.08) and Boniface Ontuga Mweresa (43.59) bringing France and Kenya, respectively, into contention to make it a 5-team anchor contest. But Nene, with 43.64, had the best close of anyone and even Doom’s kick wasn’t enough to bring Belgium any higher than silver (2:58.19). The NR-smashing 2:57.50 the winner’s achieved elevated them up to the No. 7 nation all-time from No. 10.
WOMEN
4 x 100: The third and last heat, which Team USA won in 42.86, provided one of the most viral moments of the meet. Third leg Kayla White and anchor TeeTee Terry were unable to connect at first, but White forcefully grabbed Terry’s wrist and guided Terry’s hand so she could grab the stick. Terry’s reaction wowed viewers; she never lost focus and never even flinched.
Fans had just witnessed a stunning heat 2, as Esperança Cladera, Jaël Bestué, Paula Sevilla and María Isabel Pérez had stormed to an NR 42.18 for Spain. That was more than enough to defeat no less than powerhouse Jamaica featuring Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in her final season and Shericka Jackson trying to regain her 2021–23 form. Along with twins Tina and Tia Clayton, they had one of the most formidable groups of the meet, but they managed just 42.51 in the heat.
The final was a thrilling race. Great Britain led through the first two exchanges, but Sevilla rallied the Spaniards to the lead with a great curve. Pérez took the baton first for Spain on the anchor, yet Terry and Jackson were right behind her. The Spaniard powered out strongly, though, and while the veterans closed the gap significantly, they could never pull even. The race wasn’t over. Great Britain’s 20-year-old Success Eduan had an absolutely stunning final 30 in lane 9 to zip ahead for the win, 42.21 to Spain’s 42.28, followed by Jamaica 42.33 and the U.S. out of the medals at 42.38.
The Spaniards hardly seemed heartbroken, celebrating as if they’d won, while the Brits — which won without stars Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita — were obviously pleased but had an air of a team that had been there before..
4 x 400: The women’s 4×4 was an opportunity for Spain’s emerging women to get the gold they just missed in the 4×1 and that’s what happened. First, the U.S. scored the fastest qualifying time, a 3:26.05 from the team of Maya Singletary, Karimah Davis, Paris Peoples and Bailey Lear, 0.41 ahead of France. Spain served notice with the group of Sevilla, Eva Santidrián, Daniela Fra and Blanca Hervás (3:26.25) that it would need to be reckoned with, followed by Italy. The final heat went to South Africa with an NR 3:28.01.
Shirley Nekhubui got South Africa the lead at the first exchange in the final, just ahead of Spain (Sevilla, who had just run the 4×1) and the U.S. (Peoples, moving to the opener). But then on leg 2 Davis powered ahead early and strode to a 50.03 split, taking the lead. Spain had dropped to a close 3rd, but Fra on the penultimate leg moved quickly back into 2nd and gave urgent chase to Team USA’s Singletary.
Fra then made the decisive move of the race on the homestretch, giving Spain a 0.79 lead over the Americans. Anchor Lear went to the lead on the backstretch, but it was too much too soon. Spain’s Hervás only gave a bit of ground then passed Lear in the final 30m. Spain (3:24.13), South Africa (3:24.84) and Norway (3:25.35 after a 49.71 from Henriette Jæger) all broke national records, with the U.S. settling for silver in 3:24.72.
MIXED
4 x 100: Just over 20 seconds into the first race of the meet, on the second exchange, the suggestion that the weekend might be a rough one for Team USA manifested itself. A concern was always that the differing speeds of male and female world class sprinters might cause timing issues with passes, but here it was simply that Jada Mowatt couldn’t place the baton in Kendal Williams’ hand, ending U.S. hopes.
In the final, Australia led at the first exchange behind Olivia Dodds, but Krystal Sloley’s backstretch put Jamaica in the lead. Canada, however, would prove to have the best men’s duo on the final two legs as Duan Asemota and Eliezer Adjibi took them to victory in 40.30 to the Jamaicans’ 40.44. This new event will see its major championships debut at the ’28 Olympics.
4 x 400: Team USA didn’t have to wait long for its first chance at redemption. The quartet of Johnnie Blockburger, Courtney Okolo, Chris Robinson and Lynna Irby-Jackson took it to the house in the second heat with 3:11.37, which would hold up as the fastest qualifier. Robinson’s 44.20 gave the Americans the lead entering the final leg and Irby-Jackson brought it home in 50.10.
The final saw Robinson (44.97) — moved to the opening leg — charge out to the lead, but almost get reeled in. But on the second leg, Australia, already close behind, moved ahead with Ellie Beer (50.33) and Kenya rallied from 5th to 2nd with Mercy Chebet’s 49.77. Blockburger was in 3rd when he got the stick from Okolo (50.88) and he watched Kenya and Australia take turns overtaking each other before making a powerful move at 200 that held up.
His 44.16 was the fastest of the race and gave the Americans a lead of nearly a second. Irby-Jackson left no doubt on the anchor, extending it with her terrific 49.53. The 3:09.54 was a meet record and the No. 8 performance ever (No. 4 U.S.). “It felt amazing,” Irby-Jackson said. “I don’t think we necessarily had a record on the mind, but we knew we wanted to execute and win. Coming out with a championship record is just the cherry on top.”
SECOND (REPECHAGE) ROUNDS
As was the case in ’24, the USA made the most of its second chance in the men’s 4×4. This time, Godwin led off and while he surged to the lead, he had to settle for 2nd (45.50) behind Qatar at the exchange. But Justin Robinson, added in for Bryant, saved his best for the final straight as he surged into the lead (1:29.71) with a 44.21.
Kennedy Lightner, a ’24 Kentucky grad with no NCAA or USATF finals appearances on his résumé, started fast on the third leg, but by the end of his 45.11, the U.S. was just behind Australia, 2:14.48–2:14.82. That left Khaleb McRae, who ran superbly with a strong finish. His 43.86 took the Americans well under 3:00 at 2:58.68 to Australia’s 2:59.73. One wondered if that run would have been fast enough for the 4×4 podium had Team USA made the final. But with South Africa smashing its NR and pulling four other squads under 3-flat, it would have been only good for 4th.
All 8 teams in the finals and the top 3 in each repechage race gain World Champs spots. The men’s 4×1 was an exception with 3 repechage sections from which the top 2 in each earned WC spots.
MEN’S 4 x 100
FINAL
1. South Africa 37.61 (WL) (Walaza, Dambile, Nkoana, Simbine);
2. United States 37.66 (Lindsey 10.48, Bednarek 8.79, King 9.40, Hicklin 8.99);
3. Canada 38.11 (Brown 10.50, Blake 9.32, Rodney 9.39, De Grasse 8.90);
4. Japan 38.17; 5. Italy 38.20; 6. Germany 38.92;… dnf—Great Britain, Poland.
REPECHAGE
I–1. France 38.31; 2. Ghana 38.32; 3. South Korea 38.51 NR; 4. Taiwan 38.96;… dnf—Netherlands, Switzerland.
II–1. Belgium 38.49 NR; 2. Kenya 38.51; 3. Colombia 38.84; 4. Paraguay 39.37; 5. Denmark 39.51;… dnf—Jamaica.
III–1. China 38.03; 2. Australia 38.31; 3. Botswana 38.53; 4. Brazil 38.64; 5. Thailand 39.20; 6. Spain 39.53.
MEN’S 4 x 400
FINAL
1. South Africa 2:57.50 (WL) (#7 nation)
(Isaacs 45.39, Okon 44.24, Koekmoer 44.23, Nene 43.64);
2. Belgium 2:58.19 (Sacoor 45.27, Vanderbemden 44.91, Segers 44.28, Doom 43.73);
3. Botswana 2:58.27 (Eppie 45.00, Oratile 44.36, Rankgwe 45.24, Scotch 43.67);
4. France 2:58.80 (Sombe 44.08 [3]); 5. Kenya 2:59.29 (Mweresa 43.59 [3]); 6. Great Britain 3:03.46; 7. Portugal 3:04.52; 8. China 3:06.33.
HEATS
IV–3. United States 3:01.23 (O’Bryant 45.72, Lang 45.57, Lightner 45.49, Godwin 44.45).
REPECHAGE
I–1. Brazil 3:01.14; 2. Netherlands 3:01.32; 3. Jamaica 3:02.00; 4. Poland 3:02.15; 5. Senegal 3:02.51; 6. Italy 3:04.14; 7. India 3:04.49;… dq—Zimbabwe.
II–1. United States 2:58.68 (Godwin 45.50, J. Robinson 44.21, Lightner 45.11, McRae 43.86);
2. Australia 2:59.73; 3. Qatar 3:00.29 NR; 4. Spain 3:02.12; 5. Zambia 3:03.16; 6. Mexico 3:03.47; 7. Ireland 3:04.42; 8. Germany 3:05.45.
WOMEN’s 4 x 100
FINAL
1. Great Britain 42.21 (Wedderburn-Goodison 11.26, Hunt 10.09, Williams 10.83, Eduan 10.03);
2. Spain 42.28 (Cladera 11.67, Bestué 10.11, Sevilla 10.28, Pérez 10.22);
3. Jamaica 42.33 (Morrison, Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton, Jackson);
4. United States 42.38 (Brisco 11.40, Chandler 10.52, White 10.34, Terry 10.12);
5. Canada 42.46 NR; 6. Belgium 42.85; 7. Netherlands 43.21;… dnf—Germany.
REPECHAGE
I–1. France 43.06; 2. Italy 43.12; 3. Chile 43.74; 4. Portugal 44.16;… dnf—Côte d’Ivoire.
II–1. China 43.03; 2. Switzerland 43.35; 3. Poland 43.38;… dq—Australia.
WOMEN’S 4 x 400
FINAL
1. Spain 3:24.13 NR (Sevilla 52.05, Santidrián 50.58, Fra 50.91, Hervas 50.59);
2. United States 3:24.72 (Peoples 52.21, Davis 50.03, Singletary 52.09, Lear 50.39);
3. South Africa 3:24.84 NR (Nekhubui, Coetzee, Molepo 52.04, Van Der Walt 50.28);
4. Norway 3:25.35 NR (Jæger 49.71); 5. Italy 3:26.40; 6. France 3:26.87; 7. Canada 3:27.84; 8. Germany 3:29.65.
HEATS
I–1. United States 3:26.05 (Singletary 53.26, Davis 50.56, Peoples 51.76, Lear 50.47).
REPECHAGE
I–1. Great Britain 3:24.46; 2. Belgium 3:24.52; 3. Poland 3:24.56 (Święty-Ersetic 49.96 [2], Bukowiecka 49.34); 4. Kenya 3:28.20 NR; 5. Brazil 3:29.86; 6. Botswana 3:34.62.
II–1. Ireland 3:24.69; 2. Australia 3:27.31; 3. Switzerland 3:32.37; 4. China 3:32.74; 5. Zambia 3:36.79.
MIXED 4 x 100
FINAL (w/w/m/m)
1. Canada 40.30
(McCreath 11.39, Leclair 10.34, Asemota 9.31, Adjibi 9.16);
2. Jamaica 40.44 (Cole 11.48, Sloley 10.41, Thomas 9.31, Levell 9.16);
3. Great Britain 40.88 (Philip 11.91, Mensah 10.31, Quainoo 9.16, Ferguson 9.50);
4. Australia 41.22; 5. Italy 41.25; 6. France 41.31; 7. China 41.56; 8. Belgium 41.72.
HEATS
I–4. United States 1:05.77 (Blackmon, Mowatt [drop], K. Williams, Austin).
REPECHAGE
I–1. France 43.06; 2. Italy 43.12; 3. Chile 43.74; 4. Portugal 44.16;… dnf—Côte d’Ivoire.
II–1. China 43.03; 2. Switzerland 43.35; 3. Poland 43.38;… dq—Australia.
MIXED 4 x 400
FINAL (m/w/m/w)
1. United States 3:09.54 (8 W, 5 A)
(C. Robinson 44.97, Okolo 50.88, Blockburger 44.16, Irby-Jackson 49.53);
2. Australia 3:12.20 NR
(Van Ratingen 45.10, Beer 50.33, Thorne 45.50, Bull 51.27);
3. Kenya 3:13.10 (Kapirante 45.98, Chebet 49.77,
Tinega 45.93, Oketch 51.42);
4. Great Britain 3:14.74; 5. South Africa 3:16.29; 6. Belgium 3:16.45; 7. Poland 3:16.48; 8. Ireland 3:19.64.
HEATS
II–1. United States 3:11.37 (Blockburger 45.56, Okolo 51.21, Robinson 44.20, Irby-Jackson 50.10).
REPECHAGE
I–1. Spain 3:12.55 NR; 2. Germany 3:13.35; 3. China 3:13.39 NR; 4. Jamaica 3:14.42; 5. Switzerland 3:18.07; 6. Brazil 3:19.19.
II–1. Italy 3:12.53; 2. France 3:12.66; 3. Canada 3:12.95 NR; 4. India 3:14.81; 5. Uganda 3:15.26 NR; 6. Botswana 3:19.11; 7. Sri Lanka 3:20.61.
