The World Athletics Relays, hosted at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou, China, on May 10-11, 2025, is the global arena where relay teams compete for supremacy and Tokyo World Championships qualification. Day 1 set the stage with stunning upsets, like the United States’ baton drop in the mixed 4x100m heats, and fierce preliminary rounds that fueled anticipation. Day 2, packed with finals and repechage battles, was poised to deliver historic performances and secure critical qualification spots. What unfolded on this electrifying Sunday?
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Canada’s Historic Mixed 4x100m Gold
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The mixed 4x100m debuted at the 2025 World Relays, with Canada, powered by Sade McCreath, Marie-Eloise Leclair, Duan Asemota, and Eliezer Adjibi, sprinting to gold in 40.30 seconds to claim the first-ever title in this event. Their seamless baton exchanges in the woman-woman-man-man format left sprinting giant Jamaica behind when they took silver, clocking 40.44 seconds.
Great Britain secured bronze in 40.88 seconds, capping a tightly contested final. All the podium finishers registered season-best scores, adding excitement to this breathtaking run. But the showstopper? Canada! Leaving Jamaica behind, proved that no legacy is too far out of reach. But more nations left quite an impression on the track world with their performances at the World Relays in Guangzhou.
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Which country made history by winning the first-ever gold in the mixed 4x100m relay at the 2025 World Athletics Relays?
Spain stormed the first heat of the mixed 4x400m repechage, clocking 3:12.55 to secure a Tokyo World Championships berth, while setting a national record. Germany followed in 3:13.35 for second, while China set a national record of 3:13.39 for third, both qualifying. Jamaica needed a top-three finish but faltered in fourth, continuing their tough run at the 2025 World Relays. Could another repechage heat match this intensity?
Italy Surges in Second Mixed 4x400m Repechage
Italy won the second heat of the mixed 4x400m repechage in 3:12.53, earning their Tokyo World Championships spot and registering a national record. France finished second in 3:12.66, followed by Canada in 3:12.95, both qualifying. The razor-thin margins highlighted the event’s high stakes, with only the top three advancing. How would the women’s 4x400m repechage unfold?
Great Britain Completes Sweep in Women’s 4x400m Repechage
Great Britain, led by Nicole YEARGIN, Emily NEWNHAM , Lina Nielsen, and Laviai Nielsen, won the first heat of the women’s 4x400m repechage in 3:24.46, qualifying for the Tokyo World Championships and achieving qualification in all relay events at the 2025 World Relays. Belgium ran 3:24.52 for second, followed by Poland in 3:24.56 for third, both earning Tokyo berths. The tight finish showcased Great Britain’s depth. Could another women’s 4x400m heat rival this performance?
Ireland Dominates Second Women’s 4x400m Repechage
Ireland , anchored by Sophie Becker, Rhasidat ADELEKE, Rachel MCCANN, and Sharlene Mawdsley, dominated the second heat of the women’s 4x400m repechage, running a season’s best of 3:24.69 to secure their Tokyo World Championships spot. They outclassed Australia , who finished nearly three seconds back in 3:27.31 for second, also qualifying. Switzerland , with a strong closing leg, took third in 3:32.37 to book their Tokyo berth. Ireland’s commanding performance signaled their rising prowess. What would the men’s 4x400m repechage bring?
Brazil Powers Through Men’s 4x400m Repechage
Brazil, anchored by Matheus Lima alongside Lucas Carvalho, Tiago LEMES DA SILVA, and Elias OLIVEIRA, won the first heat of the men’s 4x400m repechage in 3:01.14, securing their Tokyo World Championships qualification.
They held off the Netherlands , who finished second in 3:01.32, while Jamaica clung to third in 3:02.00, both earning Tokyo berths. The close margins underscored the fierce competition, with Brazil’s anchor leg proving decisive. How will Brazil’s momentum carry into Tokyo?
USA Blazes to World Lead in Men’s 4x400m Repechage
The United States, powered by Elija Godwin, Justin Robinson, Kennedy Lightner, and Khaleb McRae, scorched the second heat of the men’s 4x400m repechage, running a world-leading 2:58.68 to secure their Tokyo World Championships spot.
McRae’s blistering 43.86-second anchor leg sealed the win. Australia took second in 2:59.73, while Qatar , anchored by Abderrahman Samba, set a national record of 3:00.29 for third, both qualifying. The USA’s dominance reaffirmed their 4x400m prowess. How would the women’s 4x100m repechage shake out?
France Edges Out Italy in Women’s 4x100m Repechage
France won the first heat of the women’s 4x100m repechage in 43.06 seconds, narrowly holding off Italy , who clocked 43.12 seconds for second, both securing Tokyo World Championships qualification.
Chile made history by qualifying for the World Championships in the event for the first time, running 43.74 seconds to take third. The tight margins highlighted the fierce competition in this sprint relay. What does Chile’s historic qualification mean for their Tokyo campaign?
China Triumphs in Second Women’s 4x100m Repechage
China, led by Yujie Chen, Yuting Li, Junying Zhu, and Manqi Ge, won the second heat of the women’s 4x100m repechage in 43.03 seconds with a reaction time of 0.151, securing their Tokyo World Championships qualification and a season-best score.
They outran Switzerland , who finished second in 43.35 seconds, and Poland , who took third in 43.38 seconds, both qualifying. Australia placed fourth after a costly mistake on their third baton exchange, missing out. China’s sharp execution thrilled the home crowd. What would the men’s 4x100m repechage bring?
France Sprints to Victory in Men’s 4x100m Repechage
France , powered by Pablo Mateo, Jeff Erius, Ryan Zeze, and Aymeric Priam, won the first heat of the men’s 4x100m repechage in 38.31 seconds with a reaction time of 0.142, securing their Tokyo World Championships qualification, and claiming a season-best time. Ghana , anchored by a terrific leg from Ibrahim Fuseini, nearly snatched the win, finishing second in 38.32 seconds to qualify. Korea set a national record of 38.51 seconds for third but missed qualification, as only the top two advanced. The razor-thin margin between France and Ghana underscored the event’s ferocity. Could the second men’s 4x100m heat add more drama?
Jamaica’s Heartbreak in Men’s 4x100m Repechage
Jamaica suffered a devastating blow in the second heat of the men’s 4x100m repechage at the 2025 World Relays, crashing out for the second time in the event’s history.
Second-leg runner Julian Forte pulled up with an injury but heroically attempted to complete the baton exchange, yet the team could not recover, failing to finish and missing Tokyo World Championships qualification. The setback marked another low point in Jamaica’s challenging 2025 World Relays campaign. Could another nation make history in the same event?
Kenya’s Historic Men’s 4x100m Qualification
Kenya , a nation renowned for middle- and long-distance running, made history by qualifying for the Tokyo World Championships in the men’s 4x100m, finishing second in the second heat of the repechage with a time of 38.51 seconds. Belgium edged them out, winning the heat in 38.49 seconds, with both teams securing qualification.
The razor-close finish highlighted Kenya’s emerging sprint prowess, a remarkable shift for a country traditionally dominant in longer distances. What does Kenya’s breakthrough mean for their sprinting future?
China Dominates Men’s 4x100m Repechage
China stormed to a resounding victory in the fourth heat of the men’s 4x100m repechage at the 2025 World Relays, clocking 38.03 seconds to secure their Tokyo World Championships qualification.
Australia finished second in 38.31 seconds, also qualifying. Botswana took third in 38.53 seconds, just shy of their national record of 38.49 seconds set in the first round, but missed qualification as only the top two advanced. China’s commanding performance electrified the home crowd. What does China’s sprint dominance mean for their Tokyo campaign?
GOLD for USA in the Mixed 4x400m at the World Relays Finals!
The stars and stripes shone brightest in the Bahamas as Team USA blazed to victory in the mixed 4x400m relay, smashing the Championship Record with a blistering 3:09.54. The quartet of Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger, and Lynna Irby-Jackson delivered a masterclass in speed, teamwork, and precision baton exchanges, leaving no doubt about their dominance.
Australia put up a valiant fight, securing silver in an Oceania Record 3:12.20, while Kenya held off a late charge to take bronze in 3:13.10. The race was a perfect showcase of relay running—fast, fierce, and full of drama.
GOLD FOR GREAT BRITAIN IN WOMEN’S 4X100M! ANCHOR HEROICS STEAL THE SHOW
In one of the most electrifying relay finishes in recent memory, Great Britain stormed to gold in the women’s 4x100m, clocking a blistering 42.21s—thanks to a jaw-dropping anchor leg from Success Eduan, who ran down three teams in the final stretch! The young sprinter showed nerves of steel, snatching victory from the clutches of Spain, who set a national record (42.28s) in second.
Jamaica , the pre-race favorites, had to settle for bronze in 42.33s, while the USA suffered a rare off-podium finish in 42.38s. The race was a reminder that in relays, anything can happen—but did the men’s 4x100m bring the same level of chaos?
HISTORIC GOLD FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN MEN’S 4X100M! SIMBINE STUNS USA IN THRILLING FINISH
In a stunning upset, South Africa made history as the first African team ever to win gold in the men’s 4x100m, clocking 37.61s! The race came down to a heart-stopping anchor duel, with Akani Simbine producing a heroic final surge to run down Team USA, snatching victory by just 0.05 seconds. The Americans had to settle for silver in 37.66s, while Canada claimed bronze in 38.11s. The win marks a monumental moment for African sprinting.
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UNSTOPPABLE SPAIN STUNS USA IN WOMEN’S 4X400M FOR HISTORIC GOLD!
What a race! What a moment! Spain has done it AGAIN, this time dominating the women’s 4x400m in a thrilling finish, clocking a national record 3:24.13 to take down the mighty USA !
The Americans (3:24.72) led for most of the race, but Spain’s anchor ran the perfect tactical race, surging late to snatch victory in the closing meters. Meanwhile, South Africa delivered another jaw-dropping performance, smashing their previous national record by 4 SECONDS to claim bronze in 3:24.84—proving their rise in global relays is no fluke.
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SOUTH AFRICA’S RELAY DOMINANCE CONTINUES WITH MEN’S 4X400M WORLD LEAD!
Make it a DOUBLE for South Africa! Just a few minutes after their historic 4x100m triumph, the South African men have done it again, blasting to GOLD in the 4x400m with a world-leading 2:57.50 at the World Relays! The race was decided on a sensational 43.64 anchor leg by Zakithi Nene, who held off a charging Belgium (2:58.19) and Botswana (2:58.27) in a thrilling three-way battle down the home straight.
What an unforgettable day of relay madness! From South Africa’s historic golden double to Spain’s stunning upsets and Great Britain’s clutch anchor heroics, Day 2 of the World Relays proved once again why baton racing delivers the most electric drama in track & field.
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