First Canada, Then Jamaica, Breaks World Record In Mixed 4x100 Relay in Botswana

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Monirul Bhuiyan for World Athletics

The United States got through the first round of the mixed 4x100 relay, the mixed 4x400 relay and the men's 4x100 relay during Saturday's first day of action at the World Athletics Relays Championships in Botswana. 

The quartet of Ronnie Baker, Max Thomas, Lance Lang and Pjai Austin ran a time of 37.77 seconds for a world-leading time in the first heat of the men's 4x100 relay. 

It wasn't world-leading for long. In the second heat, Canada ran 37.56 seconds and Germany ran a national record 37.67 for second place. South Africa won the third heat in 37.68 and bumped the U.S. to the fourth-fastest in the qualifying round. 

Jamaica did not field a strong enough team and finished 11th. Host Botswana, with Letsile Tebogo on the anchor, was sixth and advanced. 

The U.S. women finished fourth in the first heat of the women's 4x100 relay in 43.33 seconds and did not earn a 'q.'

In the mixed 4x100 relay, Canada won the first heat in 40.07 seconds to break the world record in the relatively new event. Then, Jamaica came along in the third heat with Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldston and Tia Clayton and broke it again and punctured the 40-second barrier with 39.99 seconds. 

The U.S. ran 40.36 seconds for the sixth-fastest time with a lineup of Courtney Lindsey, Jada Mowatt, Kyree King and E'Lexis Hollis. 

In the mixed 4x400 relay, Great Britain ran a world-leading time with Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull and Yemi Mary John running 3:09.69. That was just a bit faster than the U.S. team of Bryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Brian Faust and Bailey Lear (3:09.82). 

The U.S. did not enter men's and women's 4x400 relay teams. 

Australia's men ran the fastest 4x400 with 2:57.30, just ahead of the world champions from Botswana; Great Britain ran a world-leading 3:21.28 to lead the women's qualifiers.