The World Athletics Relays in Gaborone produced a mix of records, national milestones and high-stakes qualification battles as teams raced for spots at the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 and an inaugural season finale place. Live coverage continues on CBC Sports on Sunday at 8 a.m. ET, and fans are watching how the heats reshaped the path to the finals. The Canadian delegation arrived with clear objectives: secure qualification and sharpen baton exchanges ahead of the decisive races.
From the opening rounds, the meet delivered both drama and speed. In addition to a new mixed 4x100m world record, a handful of nations recorded national bests while others sealed automatic berths to Beijing 27 by finishing in the top two of their heats or clocking one of the fastest times beyond those spots. For teams and athletes, the event is not only about medals but about mounting momentum for the summer season and the upcoming global championships.
Canada’s roster and what is at stake
The Canadian contingent numbers 29 athletes and is anchored by the Olympic 4x100m gold-winning quartet of Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Jerome Blake, who ran to a leading time in the men’s heats and are slated for the final. Across the meet, Canada has already guaranteed representation in several events: the men’s, women’s and mixed 4x100m teams, plus the women’s 4x400m, have all progressed to finals and clinched spots at Beijing 27. The mixed 4x400m squad, however, still faces one last qualifying opportunity on Sunday, so tensions and focus remain high among the Canadian coaching staff and athletes.
Team list and composition
Canada’s sprinters are divided between 4x100m duties and longer relays, with many athletes doubling across events to maximize medal chances. Key names entered for the men’s and mixed 4x100m include Aaron Brown, Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Duan Asemota, Eliezer Adjibi, Malachi Murray, Travis Campbell and Tyrell Davis. That combination provides both depth and alternate options for baton zones and anchor duties, a tactical advantage when heats and finals arrive on consecutive days.
The women’s and 4x400m lists complete the 29-member team. On the short sprints: Audrey Leduc, Dona Ntambue, Emily Martin, Emma Cannan, Frédérique Chiasson, Gabrielle Colle, Jacqueline Madogo, Marie-Éloïse Leclair and Sade McCreath provide Canada with a flexible selection for the women’s and mixed relays. For the 4x400m ranks, athletes such as Dianna Proctor, Ella Clayton, Grace Konrad, Jasneet Nijjar, Lauren Gale, Marie-Frédérique Poulin, Savannah Sutherland and Zoe Sherar form the core that will contest the longer relays and the mixed 4x400m opportunity.
Mixed and women’s heats: records, fast times and qualifiers
The opening mixed 4x100m heats were fast and historic. Jamaica broke the barrier with a sensational 39.99, establishing a new world record in that discipline; their quartet combined men and women in the man–woman–man–woman order to deliver the sub-40 clocking. Canada produced a blistering 40.07 earlier in the round — a time that briefly stood as the benchmark — and advanced alongside Germany, the Netherlands and Nigeria from that heat. The United States and Spain won the second heat, while Great Britain joined Jamaica in advancing from heat three. The official qualifiers for the mixed 4x100m final were: Canada (40.07), Germany (40.15), Netherlands (40.20), Nigeria (40.24), United States (40.36), Spain (40.51), Jamaica (39.99) and Great Britain (40.72).
Women’s 4x100m: Jamaica leads but surprises follow
On the women’s side Jamaica again set the pace, combining sprint stars to post a leading 41.96 in their heat. Spain and Canada were strong in heat one, securing 42.26 and 42.39 respectively, while China and Italy took heat two. Notable moments included Great Britain & NI being disqualified after an exchange outside the zone and Portugal setting a national record (43.11) to claim a final spot by the slimmest margin. The teams that progressed included Spain, Canada, Poland, China, Italy, Jamaica, Germany and Portugal — each now assured of Beijing 27 entry and a shot at medals on Sunday.
Men’s 4x100m: Canada posts a world lead and Botswana shines
The Canadian men’s quartet reassembled and produced the season’s fastest time worldwide, clocking 37.56 in their heat — a performance only 0.06 off their Olympic-winning mark from Paris and labeled a world lead for the season. Other fast qualifiers included Germany, Australia and South Africa; the United States won a separate heat. Host nation Botswana generated the loudest reaction when Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo anchored his team to a national record of 37.96, delivering Botswana’s first-ever automatic qualification to the World Championships in the men’s 4x100m. The qualifiers for the men’s final read: United States (37.77), Botswana (37.96), Netherlands (38.00), Canada (37.56), Germany (37.67), Australia (37.87), South Africa (37.68) and Great Britain (38.01).
What qualification means and the next steps
Advancing from heats secures not only finals opportunities but also places at the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 for the top finishers, following the event’s qualification criteria: the first two in each heat plus the next fastest teams. In addition, the final’s top six will earn spots at the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest later in the season. Athletes such as Audrey Leduc expressed belief that their teams can improve in the final, signalling that Canada’s squads remain hungry and tactically prepared for the decisive races on Sunday.
