Sprints powerhouse USA broke their own championship record in the mixed 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on Sunday (5), then followed it with a dominant display in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m.
Botswana, meanwhile, became the first African nation to win a men&rsquo;s sprint event at the World Relays by taking victory in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m.
Earlier in the evening, 30 more berths for the Paris 2024 Games were claimed in the Olympic qualifying round two. And of all of those places, it was the success of the host nation in the first mixed 4x400m heat that drew the biggest reaction from the crowd as The Bahamas secured their Olympic qualification.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/wre-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6637c562537764b490458732.png" alt="WRE Bahamas 24 highlights" /></a></div>
<h2>USA smashes own mixed 4x400m championship record</h2>
One day after breaking the championship record in their heat, the US mixed 4x400m team did it again in the final, winning in 3:10.73 &ndash; the fastest ever time outside of a global championships.
Matthew Boling gave the team an early lead on the first leg, then handed over to Lynna Irby-Jackson. She maintained pole position, but Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands and Rhasidat Adeleke both made up ground, the latter running a sensational 48.45 split &ndash; the fastest ever recorded at the World Relays.
Willington Wright gave the USA a bit more breathing room on the third leg, then he handed over to Kendall Ellis who anchored the team to victory. Behind her, Femke Bol held off a strong challenge from Ireland&rsquo;s Sharlene Mawdsley to take second place in 3:11.45, 0.08 ahead of Ireland.
Nigeria just missed the podium but was rewarded with an African record of 3:12.87.
At the start of the evening&rsquo;s programme, The Bahamas won their heat in Olympic qualifying round two and smashed their national record in the process with 3:12.81 &ndash; a time that would have placed them fourth in the final, had they qualified.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66385656c16dc4552b752336.jpg" alt="Shaunae Miller-Uibo anchors The Bahamas at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24" />
Shaunae Miller-Uibo anchors The Bahamas at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (&copy; Sergio Matteo)
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The difference in running order played a big part in their success. This time Steven Gardiner gave the team an early lead, while his fellow Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo brought the team home, splitting 49.54.
Germany (3:13.85) and Great Britain &amp; NI (3:12.99) won the other heats, while Jamaica, Switzerland and Ukraine claimed the remaining Olympic qualifying places as the runners-up across the three heats.
&nbsp;
<h2>Thomas doubles up to help USA to victory in women&rsquo;s 4x400m</h2>
World and Olympic 200m medallist Gabby Thomas proved to be USA&rsquo;s most valuable asset this evening.
Just 20 minutes after running a leg on their victorious 4x100m team, Thomas was back on track for the 4x400m final. Not content to simply coast around, Thomas received the baton from Quanera Hayes and blasted a 49.58 split &ndash; the fastest of the US team &ndash; before handing over to Bailey Lear.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6638575e1f4b453f842c02fa.jpg" alt="USA's Gabby Thomas in the women's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24" />
USA's Gabby Thomas in the women's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (&copy; Sergio Matteo)
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Alexis Holmes, who anchored USA to gold in the mixed 4x400m at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, once again ran a superb last leg here (49.63) to cross the line first in 3:21.70 &ndash; the second-fastest time ever at the World Relays.
In the scrap for positions behind USA, Natalia Kaczmarek ran a strong leg (49.46) to carry Poland to second place in 3:24.71. Canada, who have finished fourth at the past three global championships, this time made it into the top three, finishing third in 3:25.17.
Great Britain &amp; NI placed fourth in 3:25.84, more than a second ahead of Norway who were rewarded with a national record of 3:26.88.
Just 90 minutes prior, six more places for the Paris 2024 Games had been claimed in the Olympic qualifying round two.
Jamaica &ndash; who surprisingly missed out on making the final &ndash; won the first heat in 3:28.54 with India taking second place. The Netherlands, world champions indoors and out but missing their two strongest sprinters in this discipline, managed to take the second heat in 3:27.45 as Switzerland followed them home. And Belgium were victorious in the third and final heat, winning in 3:26.79 as Spain broke a long-standing national record to claim second spot in 3:27.30.
&nbsp;
<h2>Botswana bounce back with triumph in men&rsquo;s 4x400m</h2>
Little more than eight months ago, Botswana found themselves disqualified from the men&rsquo;s 4x400m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 for a changeover outside the zone.
Here in Nassau, however, they dominated the final to win by 1.64 seconds in a world-leading 2:59.11, becoming the first African nation to win a men&rsquo;s sprint relay at the World Relays.
Italy was ahead at the first exchange, thanks to a strong opening leg from Luca Sito. But Botswana&rsquo;s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi ran well before handing over to world 100m silver medallist Letsile Tebogo.
The versatile sprinter uncorked a 43.72 split to put Botswana into the lead, a position that Leungo Scotch maintained on the third leg. Behind him, South Africa was locked in battle with Japan and world indoor champions Belgium.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/663857ca1f4b453f842c02fd.jpg" alt="Botswana leads the men's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24" />
Botswana leads the men's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (&copy; Sergio Matteo)
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Bayapo Ndori took up the running for Botswana on the final leg, producing a 44.13 split to carry them to victory in 2:59.11. Lythe Pillay managed to pull ahead of Belgium&rsquo;s Jonathan Sacoor to give South Africa the runner-up spot in 3:00.75. Belgium crossed the line third in 3:01.16, just ahead of Japan (3:01.20).
USA were conspicuous in their absence from the final. They had been disqualified from their heat on Saturday for moving out of the assigned order at one of the changeovers. It meant they had to be content with racing in Olympic qualifying round two, and they duly won their heat in 2:59.95. India was a distant runner-up in 3:03.23.
Spain won the second heat in 3:02.39, beating Poland (3:02.91). And Brazil claimed victory in the third and final heat in 3:01.86 from Trinidad &amp; Tobago (3:02.39), who finished just 0.05 ahead of world silver medallists France.
It was particularly bittersweet for the Olympic host nation as they were missing one of their key athletes, Thomas Jordier, who pulled up injured in the heats on Saturday. And as France&rsquo;s only medallists at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, expectations were high heading into this Olympic season.
Nevertheless, they &ndash; and all other countries who missed out on securing an Olympic berth &ndash; will still have a chance of making it to the Games. Two places remain in each relay discipline, which will be given to the top nations based on performances achieved within the qualifying window.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

Mixed 4x400m championship record for USA, victory in men's 4x400m for Botswana

USA and Botswana make history in 4x400m finals at WRE Bahamas 24

A total of 70 teams have qualified for relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following two days of thrilling action at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (4-5 May)
Fourteen teams in each of the five disciplines being contested in Nassau &ndash; the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x100m and 4x400m plus the mixed 4x400m &ndash; automatically qualified for Paris places. The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/news/bahamas-24-day-one-qualified-paris-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/news/bahamas-24-day-one-qualified-paris-2024">first 40 qualified teams were confirmed on Saturday</a> and the final 30 on Sunday, following a second Olympic qualifying round for teams that missed out on day one.
Teams that qualified on Saturday also secured their spots for the respective World Relays finals on Sunday, when they raced for prize money and Olympic lane seeding positions.
USA won four of the five finals in Nassau, the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x100m-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nation&rsquo;s 4x100m women setting a championship record</a> with their 41.85 run and the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed 4x400m squad achieving the same</a> with their 3:10.73 performance. Botswana&rsquo;s 4x400m men ensured the event ended on a high, running a world lead of 2:59.11 to <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m-final">win the last race of the weekend</a>.
Two nations &ndash; Great Britain &amp; Northern Ireland and USA &ndash; each qualified a full five teams for Paris, while another six &ndash; France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria and Poland &ndash; qualified four each.
While the majority of Paris places have now been secured, teams that missed out in Nassau do still have a chance to qualify. A further two Olympic Games places in each discipline will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period (31 December 2022 to 30 June 2024).
<h2>Teams qualified for Paris at WRE Bahamas 24</h2>
Women&rsquo;s 4x100m Australia, Canada, Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire, France, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Men&rsquo;s 4x100m Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, United States
Women&rsquo;s 4x400m Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain &amp; NI, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United States
Men&rsquo;s 4x400m Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Mixed 4x400m Bahamas, Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States
World Athletics

A total of 70 teams have qualified for relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following two days of thrilling action at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

Olympic relay fields formed at WRE Bahamas 24

In the latest episode of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/663779492c10419528bfaa30" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/663779492c10419528bfaa30">World Athletics Inside Track Podcast</a>, released today (5 May), Sanya Richards-Ross, Kelly Sotherton and Richard Kilty share a packed podcast with athletics legend Carl Lewis, world record-holder and hometown sensation Devynne Charlton and Kilty&rsquo;s Great Britain 4x100m teammate Zharnel Hughes to recap day one of the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24.
Richards-Ross and Sotherton shared their thoughts and shock at some of the results from day one, with Richards-Ross highlighting the non-direct qualification of a women&rsquo;s team from the Caribbean for the 4x100m, with favourites Jamaica finishing fifth in their heat. They will have another opportunity to race for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday.
First up was Lewis who expressed his happiness at being in attendance, stating these World Relays are more of a &ldquo;semifinal&rdquo; than a &ldquo;showcase&rdquo; event.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an Olympic year. I think the event is a good thing,&rdquo; he said &ldquo;They&rsquo;re getting more exposure, and the event means something.&rdquo;
Lewis added that he was pleased to see notable names turn out to compete in the relay qualifications for Paris 2024.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s fun to watch from an American perspective, how they (coaches) run their teams, because a lot of the time we get those legs mixed up,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be happy to see people that are committed to helping the American experience better.&rdquo;
Kilty, who has been a host on Inside Track, was joined by Hughes after they qualified for the men&rsquo;s 4x100m in Paris, with Hughes saying Great Britain&rsquo;s focus was to &ldquo;secure the bag&rdquo;.
&ldquo;We have to book the ticket to be in Paris,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Nevertheless, who didn&rsquo;t show up, we had to, and we did, we&rsquo;re off to Paris.&rdquo;
Hughes trains in Jamaica under Usain Bolt&rsquo;s former coach Glen Mills and is looking forward to doing the double (100m and 200m) in Paris.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy and excited to get out there and start running,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I know come Paris, I&rsquo;ll be in the best shape I can be.&rdquo;
Rounding off the star-studded line-up was local favourite and world indoor 60m hurdles record-holder Charlton, who praised the home crowd for packing the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t seen the stadium packed like this in years,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;To have the relays in The Bahamas again is special to Bahamians. For us to host these games again, Bahamians are really excited, relays are what we do.&rdquo;
Charlton, who is known for her individual accomplishments, also spoke about the expectations of being part of a relay team.
&ldquo;Being part of a team is more pressure for me,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I know once I step on the track (in an individual race) no one is depending on me to have a good race. But when you step on the track (in a relay) it&rsquo;s like you&rsquo;re doing it for three other people and you want to be as good as possible for them.&rdquo;
World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 action continues on Sunday with teams battling it out in the finals to secure lane placements in Paris. Teams that did not earn automatic qualification will have a second chance in the repechage to secure their countries a place in Paris 2024.
This is the second in a series of World Athletics Inside Track Podcast episodes from Nassau, all available via the usual podcast platforms &ndash; including on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18">Spotify</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the <a href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/">Sport Social Podcast Network</a> &ndash; while fans can also watch the show on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos">World Athletics website</a>.
With an evolving presenter line-up, the podcast will return later in the year, as an all-star cast will provide a preview to the events at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Find it all on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track">Inside Track</a>.

Carl Lewis, Devynne Charlton and Zharnel Hughes join the podcast to wrap up day one of the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

Lewis, Charlton and Hughes join Inside Track Podcast

There was double delight for China at Sunday&rsquo;s (5) Korzeniowski Warsaw Race Walking Cup &ndash; the latest gold stop on the World Athletics Race Walking Tour.
It was a breakthrough win for Qian Haifeng in the men&rsquo;s 20km in 1:19:05, but yet another triumph to add to a long list for Liu Hong in the women&rsquo;s race, which she won in 1:27:33.
There is no stopping Liu. Just days before the 2016 Olympic and four-time world champion&rsquo;s 37th birthday, she took control just as she appeared to lose it. Australia&rsquo;s Jemima Montag took the lead at three-quarter distance, only for the Chinese to power back for yet another win.
The Chinese charge was evident from the gun. Montag was the only outlier in a group of seven that appeared to catch Katarzyna Zdzieblo by surprise.
The 2022 double world silver medallist from Poland quickly made up the ground in front of her home crowd, and the lightning start eased a notch to allow Australia&rsquo;s Rebecca Henderson, Bolivia&rsquo;s Angela Castro and China&rsquo;s Yin Lamei to latch on.
It was short lived. Just after 3km the leaders were already down to three with Peng Li struggling to make up a three-second gap. Liu, Montag and 2012 Olympic champion Qieyang Shijie were determined to make it a three-woman race way before quarter distance, and as the heat rose to an unwelcome 24C, so did the pace.
From this point there was no one else within 200 metres, and significant gaps beyond that. 21-year-old Peng was now alongside Zdzieblo for fourth and fifth places. The latter was already hurling double bottles of water over her in an attempt to keep cool.
In contrast, Liu and Montag stared impassively into the distance behind dark glasses while Qieyang&rsquo;s strained face suggested life in the fast lane was less than comfortable. In fact, the multiple world medallist appeared to get uncoupled just short of halfway.
But the pink-capped 33-year-old has previously won big races with a big heart, and she was not about to surrender this early. She hauled herself back into contention for the next two kilometres, just as Zdzieblo detached herself from Peng.
But with 55 minutes on the clock, a dip of the head from Qieyang said volumes. She realised her race for first was over as the leading pair powered on.
With five out of 16 1.2km laps left, Montag made her move with the Australian&rsquo;s economic arm action moving all the quicker as she opened up a three-second gap on Liu. But the former world record-holder was far from done. She not only clawed back the lead, but nosed ahead to leave the Australian looking spent.
Liu then lit the afterburners to underline her class, and even broke into a rare smile as she lapped up acclaim from supporters on the course over the last circuit.
She finished in 1:27:33. Montag was 24 seconds back, and Qieyang was third in 1:28:14. A long way back, Zdzieblo, walking solo, recorded 1:31:18 for fourth with Shi Yuxia fifth in 1:31:27.
Following her 1:26:47 in Taicang in March, her best for three years, and now this victory against a world-class field, few would bet against Liu earning her 10th global medal at the Paris Olympics in August.
<h2>Qian defeats defending champion Bonfim</h2>
Qian, the World University Games silver medallist, took the men&rsquo;s race by the scruff of the neck over the last 4km to deny Caio Bonfim a second successive triumph in the Polish capital. He crossed the line in 1:19:04, just 13 seconds shy of the PB he set in Taicang in March, while Bonfim came home in 1:19:16 for his third podium finish in a Gold Tour race this year.
Two-time world champion Toshikazu Yamanishi made a welcome return to finish behind the leading pair in 1:19:36. The Japanese was the only one to give chase when the leading pair took off just after halfway, but a short gap to the leaders proved tantalisingly elusive.
From the gun, Bonfim wasted no time at the front but had Tomohiro Noda and Zhang Jun for company. A loose group of 12 was positioned behind the trio with the rest of the field strung out behind them.
Brazil&rsquo;s Bonfim hit his stopwatch just two seconds shy of 8:00 for the first 2km, by which time the dozen chasers had closed the gap. This included five Chinese, Yamanishi, Australia&rsquo;s Declan Tingay and Rhydian Cowley with Jefferson Segura from Mexico living in rarefied company.
Just after 26 minutes, Qian showed intent with the leaders trimmed to nine, but the tiny gap was quickly closed. Noda from Japan was desperately trying to hang on their coattails, but the yellow vested Gianluca Pichiottino of Italy was looking comfortable in the middle of the group.
Exactly on 40 minutes, China&rsquo;s Zhao Xiangfei forged a five-metre gap and then surprised spectators by immediately stepping off the road. At the same time, Bonfim and Qian moved through the gears to leave everyone in their wake &ndash; everyone, that is, except Yamanishi.
The Japanese went after the leaders but found the 15-metre gap to the pair ahead of him a bridge too far on this occasion. But his losses were slight compared to the chasers.
There was no sight of the earlier group, not even in the far distance as Bonfim and Qian passed the water station with five laps to go. With three laps left, Qian made his winning bid. As he did so, there was the tell-tale sign of Bonfim&rsquo;s head beginning to dip &ndash; and so it proved.
At the same moment, Qian got a ride off lapped team-mate Wen Yongjie, but useful as it was, the leader was already headed for the winning tape, which he crossed in 1:19:05. Bonfim followed 12 seconds later, then Yamanishi finished in 1:19:37.
Behind the first three, Cowley clocked 1:19:46 for fourth. Pichiottino hung on for an isolated but solid fifth, and Tingay got ahead to claim sixth just ahead of Noda.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Liu Hong (CHN) 1:27:33 2 Jemima Montag (AUS) 1:27:56 3 Qieyang Shijie (CHN) 1:28:14 4 Katarzyna Zdzieblo (POL) 1:31:18 5 Shi Yuxia (CHN) 1:31:27 6 Peng Li (CHN) 1:31:29 7 Olivia Sandery (AUS) 1:32:35 8 Qiji Zhouma (CHN) 1:32:53 9 Alejandra Ortega (MEX) 1:34:51 10 Angela Castro (BOL) 1:34:58
Men 1 Qian Haifeng (CHN) 1:19:05 2 Caio Bonfim (BRA) 1:19:17 3 Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) 1:19:37 4 Rhydian Cowley (AUS) 1:19:46 5 Gianluca Picchiottino (ITA) 1:20:46 6 Declan Tingay (AUS) 1:21:01 7 Tomohiro Noda (JPN) 1:21:08 8 Michele Antonelli (ITA) 1:21:28 9 Artur Brzozowski (POL) 1:21:46 10 Kevin Campion (FRA) 1:23:26

Liu Hong triumphs in 1:27:33, Qian Haifeng takes breakthrough win in 1:19:05

Liu and Qian claim Chinese double in Warsaw

The first eight teams to have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in each the five disciplines being contested at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 have been confirmed following the opening day of competition in Nassau.
Fourteen teams in the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x100m and 4x400m plus the mixed 4x400m in Nassau this weekend (4-5 May) automatically qualify for places at the Paris Olympics. On Saturday, the top two teams in each of the four heats per event secured spots for their respective World Relays finals on Sunday, while also booking their places for Paris.
Three nations &ndash; France, Great Britain &amp; Northern Ireland and USA &ndash; each qualified four teams for Paris, while another three &ndash; Canada, Italy and Poland &ndash; qualified three each.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/wre-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6637c562537764b490458732.png" alt="WRE Bahamas 24 highlights" /></a>
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The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed 4x400m</a> heats got the session started in record-breaking fashion. In this first round alone, eight teams finished inside the previous championship record that had stood for seven years - USA&rsquo;s 3:11.52 to win heat two topping the lot.
USA also led the first round in <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x100m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s 4x100m</a>, while Ireland set a national record to top the list of <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women&rsquo;s 4x400m</a> qualifiers and Botswana pipped South Africa in a brilliant <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/report/bahamas-24-report-4x400m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">men&rsquo;s 4x400m</a> battle.
Teams will compete for prize money and Olympic lane seeding positions in Sunday&rsquo;s finals. All other teams will race in the additional round where the top two teams in each of the three heats will also qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Following the qualification of 14 teams per event in Nassau, the remaining two places for Paris in each discipline will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period (31 December 2022 to 30 June 2024).
<h2>Teams qualified for Paris</h2>
Women&rsquo;s 4x100m Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Netherlands, Poland, United States
Men&rsquo;s 4x100m Canada, China, France, Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, United States
Women&rsquo;s 4x400m Canada, France, Great Britain &amp; NI, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, United States
Men&rsquo;s 4x400m Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Great Britain &amp; NI, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, South Africa
Mixed 4x400m Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, United States

The first eight teams to have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in each the five disciplines being contested at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 have been confirmed following the opening day of competition

First 40 relay teams qualified for Paris 2024

Up until the final discipline on day one at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, it seemed as though sprints powerhouse USA and Paris 2024 Games hosts France would secure Olympic qualification in all five disciplines. But it all came crashing down for both teams in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m.
USA was disqualified from the first heat for moving out of the assigned order at one of the changeovers, while France&rsquo;s second-leg runner Thomas Jordier &ndash; who had contested the mixed relay earlier in the day &ndash; suffered an injury in the fourth and final heat. Both teams will get a second chance in the Olympic qualification round two on Sunday, but they would have preferred to have got the job done today.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/wre-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6637c562537764b490458732.png" alt="WRE Bahamas 24 highlights" /></a>
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Botswana &ndash; bolstered by a stunning 43.49 split from world 100m silver medallist Letsile Tebogo on leg two &ndash; produced the fastest clocking of the day in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m heats, prevailing by 0.03 in a close battle with South Africa, 2:59.73 to 2:59.76.
Tebogo had put Botswana into the lead, then world record-holder Wayde van Niekerk regained pole position for South Africa on leg three. But Bayapo Ndori produced a 43.95 anchor for Botswana to give them victory in one of the closest finishes of the evening.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66370befce559ee9034a5369.jpg" alt="Botswana wins their 4x400m heat at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24" />
Botswana wins their 4x400m heat at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (&copy; Francesca Grana)
</div>
World indoor champions Belgium also impressed. Anchored by world indoor 400m champion Alexander Doom, the Belgian quartet won their heat convincingly in 3:00.09 with Nigeria a distant second in 3:01.70.
In the first of the four heats, USA lived up to expectations by crossing the line in first place. But it later emerged that one of the US quartet had intentionally moved out of the set order for one of the changeovers, landing the team with a disqualification.
It meant that Japan, who had initially crossed the line in second place, were declared winners in 3:00.98 from Germany (3:01.25).
The third heat was the slowest but most competitive with five teams still in contention as they approached the final 100 metres of the last leg.
Italy&rsquo;s Davide Re eventually pulled ahead to win in 3:01.68, while Britain&rsquo;s Lewis Davey found space on the inside to move past Qatar and the Netherlands, claiming the runner-up spot in 3:02.10.
The 23 teams who missed out on Olympic qualification today will have another chance on Sunday of ensuring their place in Paris. The top six teams in the Olympic qualification round two will join the eight automatic qualifiers from Saturday.
&nbsp;
<h2>USA dominate in record-breaking mixed 4x400m round</h2>
Just three minutes and 12.16 seconds after the gun had fired for the first event at the World Relays, a championship record had been broken.
The Dutch quartet &ndash; featuring Femke Bol and Lieke Klaver, world champions in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m indoors and out &ndash; took more than two seconds off the championship record that had stood for seven years.
World indoor silver medallist Klaver moved the team from fourth to second with her 49.57 split on leg two. But the Netherlands still trailed The Bahamas, with Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo running a 49.70 split to give the host nation a lead of 0.78 at the half-way point.
Olympic champion Steven Gardiner then doubled The Bahamas&rsquo; lead on leg three, but the Netherlands still had Bol to come on the anchor leg, while The Bahamas had had to draft in teenager Shania Adderley after Anthonique Strachan had experienced shin pains in warm-up.
Adderley acquitted herself well and held the lead until about half-way through her leg before Bol breezed past. The world 400m hurdles champion ran a 49.54 anchor to finish in 3:12.16.
World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino produced a stunning 48.93 split to take the Dominican Republic from fifth to second and into an Olympic qualifying spot.
Just 11 minutes later, the championship record was smashed again, this time by world champions USA. Matthew Boling, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Ryan Willie and Kendall Ellis teamed up to win in 3:11.52, finishing more than two seconds ahead of Nigeria (3:13.79).
The championship record survived for the remaining two heats, but Ireland was rewarded with a national record of 3:12.50 with their surprise win in heat three.
Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley provided the star power, clocking splits of 49.64 and 50.13 on legs two and four respectively. They held off a strong challenge from Belgium, who took second place in 3:13.18 ahead of world silver medallists Great Britain (3:13.52).
In heat four, meanwhile, Olympic champions Poland showed renewed form to win in 3:13.53, helped by a 49.84 anchor leg from world silver medallist Natalia Kaczmarek. Olympic hosts France claimed the runner-up spot and a place at their home Games in 3:14.71.
While the likes of The Bahamas, Great Britain and Jamaica missed out on an automatic Olympic qualifying place today, they&rsquo;ll have a chance of claiming one of the six remaining places on Sunday.
&nbsp;
<h2>Double duty sees Ireland take top qualifying spot in women&rsquo;s 4x400m</h2>
Less than two hours after setting a national record to win their heat and qualify for the Olympics in the mixed 4x400m, Ireland did exactly the same thing in the women&rsquo;s 4x400m &ndash; thanks, again, to the efforts of Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley.
Running the same legs that they did in the mixed event, Rhasidat went even quicker with a 49.48 clocking, while Mawdsley produced a 50.98 split to hold off the challenge of Britain&rsquo;s Lina Nielsen. Ireland crossed the line in a national record of 3:24.38 while Great Britain finished second in 3:24.89.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66370c15ce559ee9034a536c.jpg" alt="Ireland wins their heat in the women's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24" />
Ireland wins their heat in the women's 4x400m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 (&copy; Francesca Grana)
</div>
World silver medallist Natalia Kaczmarek was another athlete on double duty. She anchored the Polish team to victory in the third heat in 3:27.11, while an inspired French team claimed the second Olympic qualifying spot in 3:28.06 ahead of Jamaica (3:29.03).
Olympic champions USA ensured they&rsquo;ll be in Paris to defend their title, taking the fourth and final heat in 3:24.76 to finish more than two seconds ahead of their nearest opponents. Norway&rsquo;s Henriette Jaeger ran a 49.94 split to cross the line in second place in a national record of 3:26.89, finishing 0.3 ahead of the more favoured Belgian quartet.
In the first of four heats, Italy pulled off a surprise victory over Canada. A 50.56 split from Alice Mangione gave the Italians the lead, finishing in 3:26.28 to Canada&rsquo;s 3:27.17. World champions Netherlands &ndash; with a team that did not feature Femke Bol or Lieke Klaver &ndash; placed third in 3:28.10.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

Two out of three ain't bad for France and USA in 4x400m events

Mixed fortunes for USA and France in 4x400m heats at WRE Bahamas 24

Both US teams made a statement in the first round of the 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 on Saturday (4), dominating their heats to storm into Sunday&rsquo;s finals and &ndash; more importantly &ndash; secure their spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
With the top two teams in each of the four heats automatically qualifying for Paris, it was all to race for. Olympic hosts France also ensured they&rsquo;ll have two teams on the start line in Paris, their men&rsquo;s quartet clinching a heat win and their women&rsquo;s team finishing runner-up to USA.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/wre-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6637c562537764b490458732.png" alt="WRE Bahamas 24 highlights" /></a>
&nbsp;
</div>
In the first round of the men&rsquo;s competition, fans were treated to a clash between Olympic champions Italy and world champions USA. Courtney Lindsey started things off for USA and he handed the baton to Kenny Bednarek. It was Olympic 200m silver medallist against Olympic 100m champion on the second leg, as Bednarek went head-to-head with Marcell Jacobs.&nbsp;
Kyree King took over from Bednarek before Noah Lyles &ndash; the treble world champion &ndash; ran the anchor. As Lyles sprinted away, Filippo Tortu was left to chase him home as USA won in a world-leading 37.49, more than half a second ahead of Italy in 38.14. The 2019 World Relays winners Brazil finished third in 38.79.
Since the last World Athletics Relays in 2021 in Silesia, where Italy won the men&rsquo;s 4x100m, there have been three major global titles on offer. Each was won by a different nation and the third of those victorious teams &ndash; 2022 world champions Canada &ndash; also finished on top in Nassau.&nbsp;
Anchored by Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse, Canada comfortably won the third heat, clocking 38.11, but there was a fierce battle for second. Australia had the advantage at the final handover but Jamaica&rsquo;s Sandrey Davison came through to pip Joshua Azzopardi by just four thousandths of a second, with both teams clocking 38.50. It means Australia will be among the teams running in Sunday&rsquo;s &lsquo;Olympic qualifying round 2&rsquo;, where the top two teams in each race will also qualify for Paris.
France didn&rsquo;t seem satisfied to only secure their spot for the home Olympics &ndash; they wanted to do so in style. The team was up against 2017 world champions Great Britain in heat two and Aymeric Priam held off Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, who also brought the baton home during GB's world title win, 38.32 to 38.36.
&ldquo;We have been working on this for two years, so I am glad we achieved the qualification,&rdquo; said Jeff Erius, France's second leg runner. &ldquo;All French teams have qualified so far. It&rsquo;s a great start.&rdquo;
The fourth and final heat came down to a battle between Japan and China. While Japan led into the final leg, China had by far the smoother changeover, but as China&rsquo;s Chen Jiapeng challenged, Japan&rsquo;s Sota Miwa responded to win by 0.15 in 38.10.
Among those joining Brazil and Australia in fighting for Paris places again on Sunday will be Trinidad and Tobago, who finished third in heat two, and South Africa, third in heat four.
<h2>Paris place secured, USA eyes faster time in final</h2>
When it comes to the women&rsquo;s 4x100m, either the United States or Jamaica had won at the three global championships held since the last World Athletics Relays. While world champions USA cruised through the first round in Nassau, Olympic champions Jamaica didn&rsquo;t enjoy such a smooth ride and they will also be among the teams returning on Sunday to have another go at Olympic qualification.
The US quartet of Tamari Davis, Gabby Thomas, Celera Barnes and Melissa Jefferson dominated from start to finish to win the first heat in 42.21.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6636f180e4618185cd8ff528.jpg" alt="USA's 4x100m women celebrate their Olympic qualification" />
USA's 4x100m women celebrate their Olympic qualification (&copy; Francesca Grana)
</div>
Davis got a strong start and she handed the baton to her world title-winning teammate Thomas, the individual Olympic and world 200m medallist, with a narrow lead. Thomas maintained the advantage and the team was unchallenged from there, as Barnes took over and then Jefferson brought them home to secure the first Olympic 4x100m place of the competition.
France were challenged by Nigeria in the closing stages, with a fast-finishing Tima Godbless chasing French anchor Mallory Leconte, but Leconte managed to hold on to claim the second qualification spot - 43.09 to 43.15.
&ldquo;We came together and made it happen in such a short time,&rdquo; said Thomas. &ldquo;Tomorrow, I believe we will do better and can be faster.&rdquo;
There was no hiding Poland&rsquo;s delight following their heat two win. The team started well but China, Italy and Canada soon started to make their presence felt. At the final changeover, those four teams were pretty evenly matched and they ran in a row down the home straight. But Ewa Swoboda, Poland&rsquo;s world indoor 60m silver medallist, proved the most poweful and she overcame her rivals to win in 42.81. Canada secured second in 42.98, 0.05 ahead of China, with 2021 winners Italy finishing fourth.
Germany won the women's 4x100m when The Bahamas last hosted the World Athletics Relays in 2017 and seven years later they got their campaign off to a successful start. Two of the nation&rsquo;s 2022 world bronze medal-winning team members &ndash; Rebekka Haase and Gina Luckenkemper &ndash; were on the team again this time and Haase crossed the finish line to win the third heat in 42.72.
While Australia&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s team missed out on an automatic qualifying spot for Paris by thousandths of a second, the women&rsquo;s team clinched one by the same margin as Ebony Lane, Bree Masters, Ella Connolly and Torrie Lewis clocked an Oceanian record of 42.83 to deny Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire by 0.003. That was despite a strong anchor leg from multiple global medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, that initially looked as though it may have been enough.
There were huge cheers as athletes took to the start line for the fourth and final heat, with world indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record-holder Devynne Charlton leading off for the host nation.&nbsp;
It was Liberia, through Ebony Morrison, that seemed to get the best start, but Great Britain soon looked in control. Asha Philip handed over to Imani Lansiquot before Bianca Williams took over. From there, it was down to Amy Hunt to get the baton home and she did so in the second-quickest time of the day &ndash; 42.33.&nbsp;
The Netherlands, anchored by Tasa Jiya, secured second in 42.88, finishing ahead of Liberia with a national record of 43.15.
The Bahamas, finishing fourth, will return to the track on Sunday for another shot at a Paris spot, along with teams such as heat one third-place finishers Nigeria, Jamaica and Ecuador, who ran a national record of 43.67 for fifth in their heat.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Both US teams made a statement in the first round of the 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

USA leads the way with 4x100m heat wins at WRE Bahamas 24

In the latest episode of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/66365ae30955693f618b9a92" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/66365ae30955693f618b9a92">World Athletics Inside Track Podcast</a>, released today (4 May), Sanya Richards-Ross, Richard Kilty and Kelly Sotherton are in The Bahamas for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, and they preview an exciting weekend of competition together with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and CEO Jon Ridgeon.
Coe and Ridgeon paired up with Richards-Ross and Sotherton respectively to give their predictions for the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s 4x100m and 4x400m as well as the mixed relay. Ridgeon and Sotherton had a bold prediction for the men&rsquo;s 4x400m, giving a podium place to India, who they&rsquo;ve identified as a rising powerhouse in athletics.
But the highlight of the chat for Richards-Ross and Sotherton was the announcement by Ridgeon of an intention to test the viability of a mixed 4x100m event.
&ldquo;The whole mixed relay thing is actually a really interesting concept, and, in many ways, we think that mixed athletics could be the future,&rdquo; said Ridgeon. &ldquo;For example, we are this year looking into testing a concept of a mixed 4x100m relay. We&rsquo;re not saying it&rsquo;s going to work; we&rsquo;re not saying that it will be an event, but it is one of the things that we are going to be testing. We are starting with an open mind and we&rsquo;re starting with all various variations.&rdquo;
Richards-Ross and Sotherton lit up with the suggestion, and volunteered themselves to be part of the testing phase. Richards-Ross then offered suggestions on the formation of teams: &ldquo;What if there is a draw to determine who runs which leg right before the start of the event. How interesting would that be to spice it up even more.&rdquo;
Kilty, who is part of Great Britain&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s 4x100m squad in Nassau, joined Sotherton and Richards-Ross in making predictions, while they also provided clarification on the qualification process for relay teams to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This is the first in a series of World Athletics Inside Track Podcast episodes from Nassau, all available via the usual podcast platforms &ndash; including on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-track-the-official-podcast-of-world-athletics/id1733061742">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6OGo4XNfgZ3GSiXes6OO8u?si=c976714bf56b4d18">Spotify</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the <a href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcast.sport-social.co.uk/">Sport Social Podcast Network</a> &ndash; while fans can also watch the show on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/videos">World Athletics website</a>.
With an evolving presenter line-up, the podcast will return later in the year, as an all-star cast will provide a preview to the events at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Find it all on <a href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/inside-track">Inside Track</a>.

In the latest episode of the World Athletics Inside Track Podcast, released today (4 May), Sanya Richards-Ross, Richard Kilty and Kelly Sotherton are in The Bahamas for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

World Athletics Inside Track Podcast back in The Bahamas

To mark the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, Devynne Charlton has donated to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) her Bahamian team singlet and name bib from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. There she lowered her 60m hurdles world record to 7.65 when securing her first global title.
The 28-year-old Charlton, who stunned many when she sped to her first world record (7.67) in New York on 11 February, got away superbly in the 60m hurdles final in Glasgow. She was never seriously threatened, finishing clear of France&rsquo;s defending champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela. Charlton had taken the silver behind the French athlete in Belgrade two years before.
Charlton, who is competing in the 4x100m this weekend (4-5 May), handed over her Glasgow top to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at the official press conference staged infield at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
"Charlton&rsquo;s near faultless final in Glasgow was one of two world records during a standout evening session," said Coe. "On behalf of the Museum of World Athletics, I gratefully thank Charlton for her generous donation, which perfectly embodies her exceptional indoor season.
"In an Olympic year, it is worth reflecting that Charlton&rsquo;s singlet joins an artefact of a sprint hurdling legend in the MOWA. Our museum&rsquo;s collection holds the embroidered &lsquo;Nederland&rsquo; badge which Fanny Blankers-Koen wore when winning the Olympic 80m hurdles gold, one of four victories achieved by &lsquo;The Flying Dutchwoman&rsquo; at the London 1948 Olympic Games."
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65e4ec4e030c958309dcaed0.jpg" alt="Devynne Charlton wins the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24" />
Devynne Charlton wins the 60m hurdles at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 (&copy; Getty Images)
</div>
Charlton commented: "I am very happy to present my world indoor championship winning singlet and bib to the Museum of World Athletics. I will be excited to see them displayed online in 3D and exhibited around the world. I hope they help inspire future athletes and fans about the excitement of athletics.
"It is a great honour to have my achievements recognised in the museum alongside those of many all-time greats, whose careers I dream to emulate as I fulfil my track ambitions."
<h2>World indoor champions Devers and Pearson</h2>
Charlton&rsquo;s World Athletics Indoor Championships winning kit will also sit with the shoes and clothing of two other world indoor 60m hurdles champions in the Heritage Collection of the MOWA.
Olympic champions Gail Devers of USA and Sally Pearson of Australia, respectively world indoor 60m hurdles champions in Birmingham 2003 and Istanbul 2012, donated their singlets, bib numbers and running spikes to the MOWA from their 2004 (60m gold, 60m hurdles silver) and 2014 (60m hurdles silver) world indoor campaigns.
Charlton&rsquo;s early career was beset by a serious back injury. Now back to full fitness, the Purdue University alumnus has in recent years begun to fulfil her immense promise. Silver at the 2022 World Indoor Championships was followed outdoors at 100m hurdles with Commonwealth Games silver and last summer a fourth place at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.&nbsp;
Charlton&rsquo;s indoor form this season would signal an improvement to her Tokyo Olympic Games sixth place is likely this year in Paris.
World Athletics Heritage

To mark the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, Devynne Charlton has donated to the Museum of World Athletics her Bahamian team singlet and name bib from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow

Charlton donates world record singlet and bib to Museum of World Athletics

At the pre-event press conference for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, 10 of the world&rsquo;s best sprinters spoke of their ambitions to secure Olympic relay qualification this weekend when they compete at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/noah-lyles-14536762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noah Lyles</a> &ndash; the world 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion &ndash; will be aiming to secure USA&rsquo;s place at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men&rsquo;s 4x100m. He&rsquo;ll also be using this weekend&rsquo;s event as a stepping stone towards a potential tilt at winning four medals at the Games, where he intends to compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m.
He won&rsquo;t, however, be contesting the longer event in Nassau.
&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t be running the 4x400m here &ndash; when I did it at the World Indoors, let&rsquo;s just say it caused a lot of controversy,&rdquo; said Lyles, who ran third leg for the USA in the 4x400m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where he claimed silver. &ldquo;This year I will be training specifically for the 100m and 200m, but also to be in good shape for the 400m so that I can be part of the 4x400m at the Paris Olympics. I&rsquo;m in the best shape of my life, and I know I&rsquo;ve been saying that for two years, but it&rsquo;s very true.&rdquo;
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/italy/lamont-marcell-jacobs-14453864" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marcell Jacobs</a>, the defending Olympic 100m and 4x100m champion and defending World Relays 4x100m winner, will be doing all he can to prevent Lyles reaching the top of the podium in Nassau and Paris.
&ldquo;There has been a lot of change in my life since Budapest,&rdquo; said the Italian. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve moved to the US and changed coaches. I&rsquo;m really happy &ndash; the work we&rsquo;ve been doing in training is really good. Now I&rsquo;m here with my teammates; we&rsquo;re the defending World Relays champions and the Olympic champions and hopefully we&rsquo;ll win again here.&rdquo;
Seven years on from forming part of the victorious Bahamian mixed 4x400m team in Nassau, two-time Olympic 400m champion <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/bahamas/shaunae-miller-uibo-14368116" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaunae Miller-Uibo</a> will race on home soil again as she continues her comeback following the birth of her son Maicel in April last year.
&ldquo;Training has been going really well. We&rsquo;re back at it full time now and just getting things ready for the Olympic Games,&rdquo; she said.
Reflecting on the 2017 World Relays, she added: &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a memory that really stuck with us. Being able to compete at home, and on top of that to bring home the gold in the first mixed relay, it was awesome. We heard the crowd going crazy and we ran with it from there. We&rsquo;re definitely going to come out here and put on a show for the crowd.&rdquo;
World 200m finalist <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/bahamas/anthonique-strachan-14368117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthonique Strachan</a> also formed part of that winning mixed relay squad seven years ago and after being convinced by her teammates Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner, she&rsquo;s stepping up again.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just helping out the quarter-milers this weekend,&rdquo; she laughed. &ldquo;They need an extra little fast leg, I&rsquo;m going to try to be that. I&rsquo;m not a quarter-miler, that&rsquo;s not my event. Shaunae had to beg me &ndash; Shaunae and Stevie, they sort of cornered me!&rdquo;
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/bahamas/steven-gardiner-14578505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steven Gardiner</a>, the Olympic 400m champion, has great faith in Strachan and his other teammates.
&ldquo;Many people here were involved in putting together our mixed relay team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Anthonique did an amazing job in 2017, so why not have her on the team again? I know what she&rsquo;s capable of doing &ndash; she&rsquo;s a fighter, so I know she&rsquo;ll bring the stick around. She just talks, but she will do it.&rdquo;
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/bahamas/alonzo-russell-14414605" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alonzo Russell</a>, Olympic bronze medallist in the men&rsquo;s 4x400m in 2016, will be making his mixed relay debut this weekend and cannot wait to join three of the victorious athletes from 2017.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my first time on a mixed relay,&rdquo; said Russell, who last competed at the World Relays back in 2015, also in Nassau. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to put in a strong performance in front of a home crowd and get the team to Paris.&rdquo;
World indoor 60m hurdles champion <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/bahamas/devynne-charlton-14414505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devynne Charlton</a> is no stranger to a relay, but this will be her first time competing at the global event.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a hurdler that can sprint. It&rsquo;s a little different, it takes me back to high school and college because I was doing double duties there. I&rsquo;m excited to be in a team environment again.&rdquo;
It also gives her the opportunity to race back on home soil, where she received a celebratory homecoming after her success in Glasgow in March.
&ldquo;It was a big deal when I came home, the reception was amazing,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I almost wasn&rsquo;t able to walk the streets because people were stopping to get a picture with me. It was overwhelming but amazing to see the pride that Bahamian people felt for something that I did.&rdquo;
Another global gold medallist in action is <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/lieke-klaver-14560483" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lieke Klaver</a>, who formed part of the triumphant Dutch women&rsquo;s 4x400m teams at the World Championships in Budapest and World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
&ldquo;The main goal is to qualify all five teams for the Olympics. That&rsquo;s what we came for,&rdquo; she said.
Sharing insight into her mindset when on the track with her teammates, she added: &ldquo;I always try to keep my heartbeat as low as possible, not to get too much of the environment inside of me. I focus on the girls &ndash; I know it&rsquo;s just four of us and that makes me so calm. I like to be on the first leg because then I can pass on the baton and let the girls do the rest and not look! But the second leg, I love it. There&rsquo;s so much speed.&rdquo;
After running a recent 11.02 100m, just 0.03 off her PB, Olympic and world relay medallist <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/imani-lansiquot-14506362" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imani Lansiquot</a> also has Paris qualification ambitions for her Great Britain 4x100m team.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been training really hard. All eyes are on Paris and I feel like I&rsquo;m in fantastic shape,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is my first World Relays. It fit perfectly with my preparations for the year and I feel like I&rsquo;m going to do a really good job for my team.&rdquo;
Few athletes will be feeling the pressure this weekend as much as <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/france/t%c3%a9o-andant-14709654" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teo Andant</a> and his French teammates.
The men&rsquo;s 4x400m quartet provided France with their only medal at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, so expectations are high as they approach an Olympic Games on home soil.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve done a round-the-world trip &ndash; I&rsquo;ve been to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa &ndash; just to be ready for the Olympics,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re all very ready and we&rsquo;re very determined. It&rsquo;s the year of our lives for us French athletes &ndash; a home Olympics comes around just once in 100 years, so we&rsquo;ve got to get this one right.&rdquo;

Ten of the world’s best sprinters spoke of their ambitions to secure Olympic relay qualification this weekend

Olympic qualification the main goal for global stars in Nassau

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe looked forward to a relays event "for the ages&rdquo; as he spoke to the world&rsquo;s media on the eve of the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 taking place this weekend (4-5 May).
As the main qualifying event for relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, multiple world and Olympic champions are among the top-class athletes who are in the Bahamian capital ready to race for Paris places, World Relays titles and prize money.
Speaking ahead of <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/news/olympic-qualification-main-goal-world-relays-bahamas-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press conference with athletes including global gold medallists Noah Lyles, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Marcell Jacobs and Devynne Charlton</a>, Coe hailed the &ldquo;star-studded cast&rdquo;.
&ldquo;The Bahamas was our first host in 2014. We&rsquo;ve had six editions and four of them have been staged here. I&rsquo;m guessing you can probably see why. It&rsquo;s not just about the location, it&rsquo;s about the friendliness of people on the islands and it&rsquo;s about the deep respect that you have for track and field, particularly relays,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got nearly 900 athletes here from 52 different countries, and of course there is added piquancy. This is an Olympic year and we have injected some jeopardy. That jeopardy is simple: there will be teams getting selected here for Paris. Where many of those teams finish in the next day or so will also determine the advantage or otherwise of lane draws in Paris. So, there&rsquo;s a lot to play for.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted to be here. I think we are going to see something that is probably, in terms of a relay event, something for the ages.&rdquo;
Mario Bowleg, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture for The Bahamas, was delighted to have the best relay runners on the planet back in his country.
&ldquo;We welcome the world to our beautiful shores,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It was a privilege and an honour to host the first three editions of this event. We&rsquo;re on the brink of hosting the fourth edition, we&rsquo;re about to put on some things never seen before. I want to thank Seb Coe and World Athletics, as well as Mike Sands, NACAC and the LOC for ensuring that these events are a success.&rdquo;
Sanya Richards-Ross competed at the 2014 and 2015 editions of the World Relays in The Bahamas, notching up two victories in the 4x400m plus a world record in the distance medley relay.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing quite like this competition in this stadium,&rdquo; said the 2012 Olympic 400m champion. &ldquo;What makes the sport so rich and so fun is when we come together with our teammates to compete in a relay. The World Relays provides the opportunity for athletes to come out here, step on the track and represent their country and just have so much fun.&rdquo;

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe looked forward to a relays event "for the ages”

Star-studded cast ready to put on pre-Paris show at WRE Bahamas 24

Caio Bonfim is set to defend his title at the third leg of the World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold series &ndash; the Korzeniowski Warsaw Race Walking Cup &ndash; on Sunday (5) but the Brazilian faces an intriguing challenge from Toshikazu Yamanishi.
The two-time world champion from Japan was at the peak of his game following Olympic bronze, a second world title in 2022 and the World Race Walking Team Championships individual victory in Muscat. Then came 2023, and a somewhat rockier road.
A telling result almost exactly a year ago to the day was third place at the Rio Maior Gold Tour race when Yamanishi, who has a 1:17:15 personal best, had no answer to a last 5km as Bonfim and Ecuador&rsquo;s Brian Pintado disappeared into the distance. Yamanishi finished in 1:20:58, more than a minute behind second-place Bonfim.
His 24th position at the World Championships in Budapest was nearly a minute slower still. And that rarest of things, a disqualification, was his unwelcome 28th birthday present at the Japanese Race Walking Championships in Kobe in February.
However, Yamanishi is looking not just to this race, or the Olympics in Paris, but to the next World Championships &ndash; again on home soil in 2025.
&ldquo;I have a strong desire to win in Tokyo because I couldn&rsquo;t win in Budapest,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will be held in Japan so I am looking forward to having many people watching our race as I prepare for the Games.&rdquo;
Bonfim is in top form after recording a 1:17:44 PB in Taicang at the first Gold Tour race of the year. He was third in Podebrady last month in 1:18:50, and looked on course to share gold with Viviane Lyra in the inaugural mixed marathon relay at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya last month until a late penalty demoted them to fifth.
If not this illustrious pair around the 1.2km loop in Teatralny Square and Piłsudskiego Square, who else?
Zhang Jun won the Taicang race in 1:17:26, his third sub-78-minute clocking at the distance and a PB. Wang Zhaozhao recorded an impressive 1:17:48 in Taicang also, but faded to 57th in Antalya. The Chinese pair won&rsquo;t be short of friendly company: seven of their teammates will toe the line in Warsaw.
Australia&rsquo;s Declan Tingay clocked a PB of 1:18:30 in Budapest, and in Antalya was key to ensuring a second Australian team will toe the line in the Olympic mixed marathon relay.
Team-mate Rhydian Cowley, partnering Jemima Montag, finished some way ahead of Tingay in Antalya. Cowley&rsquo;s preparation for Paris looks very much on song with a 1:18:33 clocking in Taicang; not to mention 38:13.51 on the track over 10,000m at the Australian Championships in April, a result bettered by Tingay in 38:07.88 for the win.
The sentimental cheers of the morning are headed the way of Dawid Tomala. The hometown hero and Olympic 50km gold medallist was a non-finisher in Dudince in March, but he recovered to partner Katarzyna Zdzieblo to an Olympic mixed relay place in Antalya. The 34-year-old&rsquo;s 20km PB of 1:20:30 dates back to 2013.
Kimberly Garcia, winner over 20km in Warsaw last year, had initially opted to contest the 10km this weekend, but the double 2022 world champion has since pulled out of that, concentrating instead on recovery from her World Race Walking Team Championships win in Antalya.
All eyes will be on Montag and a clutch of talented Chinese race walkers, all of whom finished inside 1:28 in Taicang. The contingent includes four-time world champion Liu Hong, 2012 Olympic champion Qieyang Shijie, plus Ji Haiying and Shi Yuxia, who finished sixth and seventh respectively in Antalya.
Now a mother anticipating a 37th birthday next week, Liu&rsquo;s appetite for global success still burns strong. The 2016 Olympic champion has won races all over the world, and she recently clocked 1:26:47 in Taicang &ndash; her fastest time in three years &ndash; to underline her current form.
Montag made a breakthrough statement in 2023 with silver at the World Championships in 1:27:16. The 26-year-old medical student followed that up by setting an Oceanian record of 1:27:09 in February, and then finished sixth alongside Cowley in Antalya&rsquo;s mixed marathon relay. She too knows all about performing on foreign shores.
Poland&rsquo;s double 2022 world silver medallist Katarzyna Zdziebło will get huge support on the course, and there&rsquo;s a welcome return to competition for Antigoni Ntrismpioti. The 40-year-old from Greece has raced just once this year, clocking 44:39.83 on the track for 10,000m in Canberra, but the 2022 double European champion has pedigree in spades.
She will need to be with Chinese vests and Montag alongside ready to set a fast pace.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

Toshikazu Yamanishi takes on Caio Bonfim, Liu Hong clashes with Jemima Montag

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