Great Britain and Northern Ireland's mixed 4x400m relay team kicked off a stellar weekend at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, securing a bronze medal and automatic qualification for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest this September. The quartet of Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, and Yemi Mary John clocked an impressive 3:08.24, finishing just behind powerhouse teams USA and Jamaica.
But the medal was just the beginning of a successful campaign, as four other GB teams also punched their tickets to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The men's 4x100m, women's 4x400m, and mixed 4x100m squads all advanced to Sunday's finals from Saturday's heats, securing their spots in the Chinese capital. The women's 4x100m team, after a dramatic disqualification following a second-place finish in their initial heat, bounced back in Sunday's repechage with another second-place result to claim one of the final four World Championships slots.
Not every story had a fairytale ending, however. The men's 4x400m team finished seventh in their first race and third in the repechage, meaning they'll need to qualify for Beijing on time at a later date. Meanwhile, the women's 4x400m squad placed fourth, and both the men's and mixed 4x100m teams failed to complete their finals after baton mishaps.
This performance marks a strong rebound for British athletics, especially considering that while GB athletes medaled in all five relay events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, they failed to reach the podium at last year's World Championships in Tokyo. The depth of talent on display in Botswana bodes well for the seasons ahead.
Team Lineups:
Women's 4x100m: Renee Regis (Imani-Lara Lansiquot), Aleeya Sibbons, Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Success Eduan
Men's 4x100m: Jeremiah Azu, Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Romell Glave
Women's 4x400m: Laviai Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin, Poppy Malik (Emily Newnham), Charlotte Henrich
Men's 4x400m: Lewis Davey, Toby Harries, Lee Thompson, Seamus Derbyshire
Mixed 4x100m: Eliot Jones (Jona Efoloko), Alyson Bell, Jeriel Quainoo, Desiree Henry (Kissiwaa Mensah)
Mixed 4x400m: Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John