At the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25, the mixed 4×100-meter race got off to a spectacular start on Saturday (10). As the event had its world debut in Guangzhou, there were the anticipated thrills and spills, but Canada, Italy, and Jamaica easily advanced to tomorrow’s final. Italy won the opening heat thanks to Samuele Ceccarelli, the 2023 European indoor champion, who also held off Antoine Thoraval of France to secure the top two spots and go to the final. However, both Poland and the USA were disappointed when they failed to finish after Poland made a mistake on the third changeover and the USA made a mistake on the second.

Jamaica got off to a great start in the second heat thanks to previous global relay gold medallists Natasha Morrison and Krystal Sloley. The new event has a starting order of woman, woman, man, man. After that, Javari Thomas sent the ball to Rasheed Foster, who defeated Great Britain’s Joe Ferguson in 41.04 despite Ferguson finishing quickly. China, the host team, secured a spot in the final by finishing third in 41.30. Eliezer Adjibi stormed down the home straight to defeat Australia’s Josiah John and Belgium’s Rendel Vermeulen, giving Canada the advantage in the third heat.

Former global relay gold medallists Natasha Morrison and Krystal Sloley helped Jamaica get off to a strong start in the second heat. The order of the new event is woman, woman, man, man. The ball was then passed to Rasheed Foster by Javari Thomas, who beat Joe Ferguson of Great Britain in 41.04 despite Ferguson’s rapid finish. The host team, China, placed third in 41.30 to guarantee a position in the final. Canada took the lead in the third heat after Eliezer Adjibi swept the home straight, defeating Josiah John of Australia and Rendel Vermeulen of Belgium.