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USA broke their own 10-year-old championship record to dominate the women&rsquo;s 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, before their teammates threatened the men&rsquo;s 4x100m mark to clinch another win in Nassau on Sunday (5).
<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>
After helping her nation to a heat win and Olympic qualification on Saturday, Gabby Thomas vowed they could go even quicker in the final. She wasn&rsquo;t wrong.
The women&rsquo;s 4x100m championship record of 41.88 had been set at the inaugural World Athletics Relays in Nassau in 2014. A decade on, another US quartet made history in the Bahamian capital, as Tamari Davis, Thomas, Celera Barnes and Melissa Jefferson combined to clock 41.85 and cap a successful campaign.
They won by almost a second, while France proved they will be a force at their home Olympics later this year by securing the runner-up spot in 42.75. Third place was claimed by Great Britain &amp; NI in 42.80.
As she had done in the previous day&rsquo;s heats, Davis got the race started for USA, running a strong first leg to put her nation ahead. Olympic and world 200m medallist Thomas, who joined Davis on USA&rsquo;s world title-winning team in Budapest last year, was ready to take over and she maintained the advantage before handing the baton to Barnes.&nbsp;
They had put Jefferson in a great position and the win never looked in doubt, as the two-time world relay gold medallist surged down the home straight. The fight for second place was won by France, as Mallory Leconte &ndash; racing in lane one &ndash; held off Great Britain&rsquo;s Aleeya Sibbons. Germany finished fourth and Australia fifth.
While her teammates posed for photos, Thomas left the track to prepare for the 4x400m final less than 20 minutes later, which USA also won.
<h2>Men&rsquo;s record survives, but only just</h2>
The men&rsquo;s 4x100m championship record of 37.38 was also set by USA in Nassau but in 2015, during the second edition of the event. It still stands, but only just, as Courtney Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Noah Lyles teamed up to run a world-leading 37.40.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66386179dc1bb565bc31b886.jpg" alt="Noah Lyles heads out for the final leg of the men's 4x100m at the WRE Bahamas 24" />
Noah Lyles heads out for the final leg of the men's 4x100m at the WRE Bahamas 24 (&copy; Sergio Mateo)
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That same US quartet had run 37.49 to win the heats and they were similarly dominant in the final, winning by almost half a second ahead of 2022 world champions Canada.
Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse anchored Canada to second place in 37.89. Olympic champions Italy crossed the line next, but the team was later disqualified for a changeover occurring outside the zone. As a result, France secured third place in 38.44, just 0.01 ahead of Japan and Great Britain who both clocked 38.45 and were separated by only one thousandth of a second.
&ldquo;We were talking after the race about what else we can do,&rdquo; said Lyles, who ran the anchor leg during USA&rsquo;s world title win in Budapest after his individual 100m and 200m victories. &ldquo;Me and Kyree can get more out of that exchange zone and Kenny and Kyree can do the same. We were faster today, but still, it is all about the zone.&rdquo;
The team certainly looked in the zone. Lindsey ran the first leg, going up against Canada&rsquo;s Aaron Brown. Bednarek then took over from Lindsey and ran the second leg against athletes including Italy&rsquo;s Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs.
Bednarek handed the baton to King and then Lyles powered home to secure the win, chased by De Grasse, France&rsquo;s Aymeric Priam and Sota Miwa of Japan.
<h2>12 more teams secure spots for Paris</h2>
Teams that <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/bahamas24/news/news/bahamas-24-day-one-qualified-paris-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missed out on Paris places on day one</a> had another chance to book their spots for the Olympics in a second round of races ahead of the finals on Sunday. Competition was fierce, with the top two in each of the three heats securing automatic qualification for the Olympics.&nbsp;
The 2021 World Relays winners Italy cruised to the first 4x100m Paris place of the evening, winning the first women&rsquo;s heat in 42.60. It shows they mean business as despite not making it through to defend their title in Nassau, they went more than a second faster than their winning time from three years ago. Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire missed out on an automatic qualifying place by just three thousands of a second on day one but multiple global medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith was determined that her team would not be denied again. She received the baton behind Italy and Spain but stormed past Maria Isabel Perez, and almost caught Arianna De Masi, to secure the second spot in 42.63.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66386202dc1bb565bc31b889.jpg" alt="Italy and Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire secure their 4x100m places for Paris" />
Italy and Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire secure their 4x100m places for Paris (&copy; Francesca Grana)
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Jamaica will defend their Olympic title after they secured their Paris place on the second attempt. After finishing fifth in their race in the first round, they were dominant winners on day two, with world U20 200m bronze medallist Alana Reid crossing the finish line in 42.74. More than half a second back, Trinidad and Tobago&rsquo;s Leah Bertrand gave chase to finish second in 43.54.&nbsp;
Nigeria and Switzerland were well away in the third and final heat and while Nigeria clinched victory in a close finish &ndash; 42.71 to 42.75 &ndash; they were both rewarded with Paris places.&nbsp;
The first of the evening&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s 4x100m races saw Germany triumph, as Yannick Wolf held on for the win in 38.57. But the real drama was happening behind him. Liberia were in fourth place at the final changeover but Joseph Fahnbulleh blazed the anchor leg, overtaking Brazil and then Switzerland to clinch an Olympic spot by five thousandths of a second. Liberia and Switzerland both clocked 38.65 &ndash; a national record for the former &ndash; while Brazil followed in fourth.
Ghana and Nigeria ran away with the second heat and their places for the Olympics never seemed in doubt as they clocked 38.29 and 38.57, respectively. There was more success for Africa in the third and final heat as Akani Simbine ran a storming anchor for South Africa. After that final leg timed at 8.92, he crossed the finish line with 38.08 on the clock to ensure his team will be in Paris.&nbsp;
They&rsquo;ll be joined by Australia, who were pipped for second place by just four thousandths of a second in the first round, as the quartet went 0.04 quicker than on day one to finish runner-up in 38.46.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

USA broke their own 10-year-old championship record to dominate the women’s 4x100m at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

Championship record falls as USA wins 4x100m finals at WRE Bahamas 24

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)
</div>
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)
</div>
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

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

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

Meeting Name	Venue	Country	Date
Big South Conference Championships	Dick	USA	06 May 2024
Abendsportfest	Bungertstadion,	GER	07 May 2024
Bannister Miles - 70th Anniversary	Oxford	GBR	06 May 2024
DSA Elit 7	Lugnets	SWE	06 May 2024
Hong Kong Athletics Championships 2024	Tsueng	HKG	03 May 2024

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