New Relays Bring New Dynamic to IAAF World Relays

By Adam Kopet

The IAAF World Relays get underway Saturday in Yokohama, Japan. This year's edition, the fourth time it has been contested since its creation in 2014, includes the addition of two new mixed-gender relays.

The 2017 World Relays in The Bahamas, included a mixed gender 4x400 relay for the first time. The success the event had has led the mixed-gender 4x400 relay to be added to the 2019 IAAF World Outdoor Championships and the 2020 Olympics, as well as returning for this year's World Relays.

The two new relays include a shuttle hurdle relay event and a 2x2x400 relay. The latter is a replacement for the 4x800 relay, which will not be contested this year.

The shuttle hurdle relay will feature two women and two men competing. The women will compete on the first and third legs and the men will compete on the second and fourth legs. The women will run the traditional 100-meter hurdles, but then an additional 10 meters on the end so that the men can run their traditional 110-meter hurdles.

The U.S. team features a strong group of hurdlers, including Devon Allen and Freddie Crittenden for the men and Christina Clemons (Manning), Sharika Nelvis and Queen Harrison for the women.

The countries with entered teams for the 2x2x400 relay have chosen primarily to go with middle distance runners with strong 400-meter ability. That is because the race will be like running a 4x400 relay, but with only two runners alternating legs.

The U.S. has selected Donavan Brazier and Ce'Aira Brown to compete. Brazier finished third in his outdoor season debut at 800 meters at last week's Doha Diamond League meeting. He also set a world best in the 600 meters indoors, running 1:13.77. Brown has also seen success this year, running a personal best 1:59.74 for 800 meters indoors and running a personal-best 4:07.68 for 1,500 meters outdoors.

The remaining World Relays events include the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 relays and the mixed gender 4x400 relay. The U.S. is sending squads that will likely contend for the wins.

Noah Lyles is set to run the 4x100 relay with Justin Gatlin and Mike Rodgers. However, they will face strong teams from Jamaica and Great Britain. And the home country cannot be forgotten. Japan has made big strides in the 4x100 relay in the past decade. This will be a test before running in front of a much bigger Japanese audience next year at the Olympics.

The women's 4x100 relay team will be looking to make up for a fall on the lead-off leg of the final two years ago. Jamaica and Germany bring strong teams. China could be a dark horse.

Despite strong 4x200 relay teams, the U.S. men have never won the event at the World Relays. That could change this year, as the 2017 winner, Canada, has elected to run their core team of sprinters in the 4x100 relay instead. This is another event where Japan could make an impression with its growing sprint strength.

Jamaica won the women's 4x200 relay in 2017 and it appears Jamaica wants to retain its title. The Jamaican squad includes Elaine Thompson and Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The U.S. team features Gabby Thomas, Kyra Jefferson and Mikiah Brisco. If the U.S. women can out perform Jamaica in the baton exchanges, there is a chance for an upset.

The U.S. has dominated the 4x400 relay at the World Relays. The men's and women's events have been won by the U.S. in each of the previous three editions of the World Relays. The only blemish on the U.S. record is a second place finish in the first ever mixed-gender 4x400 relay. The Bahamas won that event on the backs of Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.  However, The Bahamas is focusing on the men's 4x400 relay this year and will not compete in the mixed-gender race.

Some of the U.S. team members expected to take part in the 4x400 relays include Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Josephus Lyles, Paul Dedewo, Courtney Okolo, Shakima Wimbley, Jessica Beard, Nathan Strother and Olivia Baker.

The IAAF World Relays, a two-day meet, are being held in Yokohama, a part of the Tokyo metro area, for the first time. The Bahamas hosted the previous three editions, but government backing could not be obtained for The Bahamas to continue hosting. Jamaica was considered as a possible host, but logistical problems prevented the meet from continuing to be held in the Caribbean.