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World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas sees Britain and the United States in impressive form as they seal Paris 2024 places
United States dominated the second day of the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas with victories in four of the five finals, but it was also a good weekend for Britain as they joined the United States as one of only two nations to qualify all of their teams for the Olympics.
Following the first day of action, the United States set an event record of 41.85 in the women’s 4x100m and also the mixed 4x400m with 3:10.73.
Botswana were also celebrating as they won the men’s 4x400m in a world lead of 2:59.11 in the absence of the United States, who were disqualified in the heats on Saturday but still managed to qualify for Paris in this event with a second chance effort on Sunday.
A total of 70 teams have now qualified for the relays in Paris following this event in The Bahamas. As well as the United States and Britain enjoying a ‘full house’ the following nations qualified four teams for the Games – France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Poland and Nigeria.
USA mixed relay winners (Sergio Mateo / World Athletics)
British teams finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth in their races on Sunday night.
The British successes began with the 4x400m mixed relay who, after finishing third in their semi on Saturday, won their repechage heat in 3:12.99 courtesy of Brodie Young, Laviai Nielsen, Charlie Dobson and Nicole Yeargin.
Young said: “All that was going through my head was ‘try get the team to Paris’! So as my legs were starting to get tired, I was thinking ‘Paris… Paris… Paris,’ just keeping that ambition in my mind was what got me to finish the race.”
The only medal of the night for Britain came in the women’s 4x100m as Alyson Bell, Amy Hunt, Bianca Williams and Aleeya Sibbons ran 42.80 to take bronze behind the United States and France.
Sibbons said: “I’m so glad I came out here it has been such a great experience racing with everyone. I am really excited for what is to come. If we can do this here, God knows what we can achieve in Paris.”
Of course in Paris the Brits will be able to bolster their squad with Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, too, neither of whom were in The Bahamas.
With Britain switching its line ups from the heats on Saturday, the men’s 4x100m team saw Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jona Efoloko and Zharnel Hughes line up as they came fifth in 38.45 as the United States ran out winners in 37.40 from Canada, France and Japan.
Despite the pre-event controversy surrounding the selection of CJ Ujah, he was one of several Brits who didn’t compete in the end.
Hughes said: “The reason we came to the World Relays was to qualify for the Olympics, so all the teams are through that’s important. Tonight wasn’t the result we (4x100m) wanted but obviously we’re in and that’s all that matters for me.
“We haven’t run for the season as yet, so for a lot of us it’s our first competition together. A lot of guys aren’t as sharp as we’d like, but it’s early in the season. The Olympics is what we’re looking forward to most and when we get down there, there’ll be fireworks!”
US mixed relay victory (Sergio Mateo / World Athletics)
Victoria Ohuruogu, Lina Nielsen, Emily Newnham and Hannah Kelly combined to finish fourth in the women’s 4x400m in 3:25.24 as victory went to the United States in 3:21.70 from Poland and Canada.
In the men’s 4x400m, Botswana were impressive winners with a team that included Letsile Tebogo (with a 43.72 split) as Britain placed sixth with Matt Hudson-Smith, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Joe Brier and Lewis Davey clocking 3:02.62.
While most of the Paris places have now been sorted, teams that missed out this weekend still have a chance to qualify with a further two Olympic places in each discipline awarded based on top lists during the qualification period.
Bahamas qualification (Sergio Mateo / World Athletics)
Teams qualified for Paris from the World Relays
Women’s 4x100m: Australia, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Men’s 4x100m: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, United States
Women’s 4x400m: Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain & NI, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United States
Brazilian 4x400m joy
Men’s 4x400m: Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain & NI, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Mixed 4x400m: Bahamas, Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States
Full results, see here.
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