Fast Starts and High Stakes: Day 1 Recap of the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Ganzhou
The 2025 World Athletics Relays kicked off on Saturday, May 10 in Ganzhou, China, with a full slate of qualification rounds held under rainy skies. The first day saw intense competition across all five relay events as teams raced not just for a spot in Sunday’s finals but also for early qualification to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. With only 14 spots available per event, the pressure was high—and the performances reflected that. World-leading times, national records, and veteran comebacks defined the action as eight nations in each relay locked in their Tokyo berths.
Polished Article:
The first eight teams to qualify for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 in five of the events contested at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 2025 were confirmed on Saturday, following a wet and competitive opening day. The top 14 teams in each of the men’s and women’s 4x100m, 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m will secure their places for Tokyo in September.
In the women’s 4x400m, the USA led with a commanding 3:26.05, while South Africa stunned in the men’s 4x400m with a world-leading 3:00.00. Spain grabbed headlines by smashing its national record in the women’s 4x100m with 42.18. South Africa and Japan matched the fastest time in the world this year—37.84—to win their men’s 4x100m heats.
Women’s 4x100m Relay:
Spain’s Esperança Cladera, Jael Bestué, Paula Sevilla, and María Isabel Pérez stole the show in Heat 2, clocking 42.18 for a new national record. Jamaica, led by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, placed second in 42.51. Germany took third in 42.98—the fastest non-automatic qualifying time.
In Heat 1, Belgium’s team anchored by Delphine Nkansa won in 42.80. Great Britain followed in 42.92. The USA quartet of Mikia Brisco, Caisja Chandler, Kayla White, and Twanisha Terry won Heat 3 in 42.86, while Canada and the Netherlands also advanced.
Men’s 4x100m Relay:
South Africa’s team, featuring three Tokyo Olympic silver medallists and led by Akani Simbine, lit up Heat 2 with a 37.84 world lead. Japan equaled that time just minutes later in Heat 3, showcasing their home-soil ambitions for Tokyo 2025.
Great Britain won Heat 1 in 38.18, ahead of Poland (38.43). Italy and the USA qualified from Heat 4, with the Americans clocking 37.86. Canada’s defending Olympic champions safely advanced from Heat 3 in 38.15.
Women’s 4x400m Relay:
Team USA rallied from seventh place after the first leg to win Heat 1 in 3:26.05, thanks to a strong anchor leg by Bailey Lear. France and Norway also advanced, the latter on time with Henriette Jæger’s blazing 49.79 anchor split.
Spain led wire-to-wire in Heat 2, winning in 3:26.25. Italy followed in 3:27.03 to secure a Tokyo berth. South Africa set a national record of 3:28.01 to win Heat 3, edging out Germany and Ireland.
Men’s 4x400m Relay:
South Africa delivered the standout performance of the day, clocking a world-leading 3:00.00 with Zakhiti Nene anchoring in 43.97. China followed in 3:01.87, a national record, just ahead of Spain.
Botswana won Heat 2 in 3:01.23, while Portugal broke their national record with 3:01.78 to claim the second spot. Belgium and France took the top spots in Heats 3 and 4, respectively. The USA, notably, failed to make the final for a second consecutive edition and will need to qualify through the repechage round.
Mixed 4x100m Relay:
Making its World Relays debut, the mixed 4x100m saw Canada post the fastest time overall—40.90—in Heat 3. Italy won Heat 1 in 41.15, while Jamaica edged Great Britain in Heat 2 by just 0.01 seconds. Australia, France, and Belgium also advanced.
Mixed 4x400m Relay:
The USA dominated Heat 2 in 3:11.37, the fastest heat time in World Relays history. Ireland followed in 3:12.56. Belgium won Heat 1 in 3:11.83, with Australia setting a new Oceanian record (3:12.34). Great Britain edged South Africa in Heat 3 to win in 3:13.28. Kenya and Poland qualified on time.
The stage is now set for Sunday’s finals, where medals and remaining Tokyo 2025 spots are on the line. After a dramatic and fast-paced opening day, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
