Canada and then Jamaica break the mixed 4x100 m world record in the Gaborone heats

The mixed 4x100 m relay is a year old. It was run for the first time at the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, where Canada set the first world best of 40.30. On Saturday, in the heats of the Debswana World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, that mark did not survive the session.

Canada went first. Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-Éloise Leclair, Duan Asemota and Audrey Leduc won heat one in 40.07, with Germany 40.15, the Netherlands 40.20 and Nigeria 40.24 behind them. The United States took heat two in 40.36 from Spain, 40.51. Then Jamaica ran heat three: Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton, man, woman, man, woman, in 39.99. Great Britain and Northern Ireland were second in that heat in 40.72. Both records are subject to ratification. All eight finalists also qualified for the World Championships in Beijing next year.

The men's 4x100 m heats were nearly as quick. Canada ran a world-leading 37.56 to win heat two from Germany, whose 37.67 was a national record, and Australia, whose 37.87 equalled the Oceania record. The United States won heat one in 37.77 with Botswana second in a national record of 37.96. South Africa took heat three in 37.68. China missed the final by a hundredth.

In the women's 4x100 m Jamaica ran 41.96, Spain 42.26 and Portugal a national record of 43.11. Great Britain and Northern Ireland were disqualified for a baton change outside the zone, and the United States, fourth in their heat in 43.33, were sent to Sunday's extra round.

Two world records in one heat session, in an event nobody had run before last year. The mixed sprint relay is going to be fast for a while.

Sources: World Athletics.