South Africa and Spain Shine on Final Day of 2025 World Athletics Relays in Ganzhou
The 2025 World Athletics Relays concluded on Sunday, May 11, in Ganzhou, China, with a thrilling day of finals and second-round qualification heats for the Tokyo World Championships. Dominant performances by South Africa, breakout wins by Spain, and historic firsts from Canada and the USA headlined the action-packed final day. National records fell, championship records were shattered, and qualification battles came down to hundredths of a second as teams fought for medals and Tokyo berths across six event finals and multiple heats.
The South African team, featuring 100m and 200m world U20 champion Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and world indoor bronze medalist Akani Simbine, claimed gold in a dramatic men’s 4x100m relay final. Their world-leading time of 37.61 edged out the U.S. quartet of Courtney Lindsey, Kenneth Bednarek, Kyree King, and Brandon Hicklin, who ran 37.66—the second-fastest time in the world this year. Olympic champions Canada (Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney, André De Grasse) secured third in 38.11, narrowly beating Japan (38.17) and reigning champions Italy (38.20).
Akani Simbine: “I think this was great. I feel super great to celebrate with the girls. We are a team. It’s so exciting to be here cheering for girls and with boys and girls doing the best we can and coming home with the gold medal.”
In the women’s 4x100m final, Great Britain’s Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Amy Hunt, Bianca Williams, and Success Eduan took gold in 42.21, edging Spain (42.28), who had set a national record of 42.18 in the heats. Jamaica’s powerhouse lineup of Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton, and Shericka Jackson placed third in 42.33, just ahead of the U.S. (42.38).
Success Eduan: “I didn’t think too much about others. I just knew that if I gave my all, it would be enough. I have the mentality of a winner. I respect Shericka and Shelly-Ann, but I came to win—and we did.”
Spain’s women stunned in the 4x400m final. Paula Sevilla, Eva Santidrian, Daniela Fra, and Bianca Hervas broke the national record by a second, winning in 3:24.13. The U.S. (3:24.72) and South Africa (3:24.84) followed closely. Norway’s anchor, Henriette Jaeger, ran a blazing 49.71 split to lead her team to a national record 3:24.84 and fourth place.
Bianca Hervas: “Myself and all of them never felt like this before. We are crazy excited. We won the gold medal with a national record. It’s my biggest dream.”
In the men’s 4x400m final, South Africa delivered again. Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon (44.24 split), Leendert Koekemoer (44.23), and Zakhiti Nene won in a world-leading 2:57.50—breaking their own national record set at the Olympics. Belgium (2:58.19) and Botswana (2:58.27) rounded out the podium, ahead of France and record-setting Kenya (2:59.29).
Canada made history by winning the first-ever mixed 4x100m relay at the World Relays. Sade McCreath, Marie-Eloise Leclair, Duan Asemota, and Eliezer Adjibi clocked 40.30, holding off Jamaica (40.44) and Great Britain (40.88).
The USA dominated the mixed 4x400m final, setting a championship record of 3:09.54. Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger (44.16), and Lynna Irby Jackson (49.53) pulled away from Australia (Oceanian record 3:12.20) and Kenya (3:13.10).
Lynna Irby Jackson: “The ultimate goal coming here is to win. The championship record is the cherry on top. We trust each other, and today was perfect.”
World Championships Qualification Round 2 Highlights:
Mixed 4x400m:
Spain won heat 1 in 3:12.55 (NR), followed by Germany (3:13.25) and China (NR 3:13.39).
Italy edged France in heat 2 (3:12.53 vs. 3:12.66). Canada qualified third with a national record of 3:12.95.
Women’s 4x400m:
Great Britain took heat 1 in 3:24.46, ahead of Belgium (3:24.52) and Poland (3:24.56).
Ireland surged late to win heat 2 in 3:24.69 over Australia (3:27.31) and Switzerland (3:32.37).
Men’s 4x400m:
Brazil won heat 1 in 3:01.14, edging the Netherlands (3:01.32) and Jamaica (3:02.00).
The U.S. won heat 2 convincingly in 2:58.68, with Australia (2:59.73) and Qatar (NR 3:00.29) also advancing.
Women’s 4x100m:
France (43.06) and Italy (43.12) qualified from heat 1.
China posted the fastest overall time (43.03) to win heat 2, with Switzerland (43.35) also advancing.
Men’s 4x100m:
China dominated heat 3 with 38.03, followed by Australia (38.31).
France won heat 1 in 38.31, just ahead of Ghana.
Belgium (NR 38.49) and Kenya (38.51) secured spots in heat 2. South Korea’s NR of 38.51 wasn’t enough to qualify.
Jamaica’s relay campaign ended in disappointment as their men’s 4x100m team failed to finish for the second time. Julian Forte pulled up before the handoff to Yohan Blake and had to be taken off in a wheelchair.
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