Americans Break Meet Record In Mixed Relay; South Africa Wins Men's 4x100 and 4x400, Great Britain Wins Women's 4x100, Spain Wins Women's 4x400

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

World Athletics Photos

The United States mixed 4x400 relay team of Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger and Lynna Irby-Jackson ensured that the country will have a spot in September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

That quartet ran a meet record time of 3:09.54 at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China. That's about two seconds slower than the U.S. team that raced to a silver medal at the Paris Games last summer. 

It was not smooth sailing for the U.S. in the other events. The top 14 teams in each of the relays automatically qualified for Tokyo. An additional two World Championships spots in each relay will be awarded later this summer based on world rankings.

South Africa edged the U.S. by .05 seconds in the men's 4x100 (37.61 to 37.66) and also won the 4x400. 

The U.S. men finished their in their heat of the 4x400, missed Sunday's final, but still qualified in the top 14. 

South Africa ran 3:00.00 and China broke its national record with a second-place finish in 3:01.87.

Great Britain surprised the Jamaican women by winning the 4x100 in 42.21 seconds. Spain was second in 42.28, Jamaica was third in 42.33 and an American team that included Twanisha Terry was fourth in 42.38.

Canada won the debut of the mixed 4x100 — after the U.S. dropped the baton in its first-round heat. The mixed 4x100 is not part of the 2025 World Championships but will make its Olympic debut in 2028 at the Los Angeles Games.

Spain defeated the U.S. in the women’s 4x400 final, running a national record 3:24.13. The U.S. team comprised of Paris Peoples, Karimah Davis, Maya Singletary and Bailey Lear was second in 3:24.72.