World 400m champion Colin Kebinatshipi anchored Botswana to victory in what was the fastest ever split in the men’s 4x400m.
Botswana ended the eighth edition of the World Athletics Relays, the first to be held in Africa, in some style as they battled to victory in the men’s 4x400m on home soil.
In front of a packed National Stadium in Gaborone, the foursome of Lee Bhekempilo Eppi, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Coleen Kebinatshipi clocked 2:54.47.
It is the third-fastest time in the men’s 4x400m, behind the USA’s 2:54.29 and 2:54.43 at the 1993 World Athletics Championships and the Paris Olympics, respectively.
Botswana were pushed all the way by South Africa and Australia, with the quartet posting respective marks of 2:55.07 and 2:55.20. They are the fifth and sixth fastest times in men’s 4x400m history.
South Africa were greatly helped by Light Pillay, who ran the fastest ever men’s 4x400m in 42.66, beating the 42.9 that Michael Johnson produced in Stuttgart 33 years ago.
In the women’s 4x400m final, Henriette Jaeger set a good anchor leg with 48.91 points to secure victory for Norway. The World Indoor 400m bronze and European Indoor 400m silver medalist was part of a quartet that included Josephine Tomin Eriksen, Amalie Ewell and Astri Erzgaard who combined to clock 3:20.96.
Britain’s quartet of LaVay Nielsen, Nicole Jaregy, Poppy Mailk and Charlotte Henrich finished fourth in 3:22.77 ahead of Spain’s Norway (3:21.25) and 3:22.66.
Olympic champions Canada stumbled in a dramatic men’s 4x100m race that saw the British team DNF. The US quartet of Ronnie Baker, Max Thomas, Lance Lang and PJ Austin secured the win in 37.43.
South Africa, anchored by Akani Simbin, set an African record in 37.49, with Germany third in 37.76.
Elaine Thompson-Hera returned to international competition by anchoring Jamaica to victory in the women’s 4x100m final.
The five-time Olympic sprint champion is back this season after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that forced her to miss the Paris Olympics and required an extensive rehabilitation program.
Together with Briana Williams, Jodin Williams and Lavanya Williams, they went 42.00 to lead Canada, who ran a national record of 42.17.
The USA continued its dominance in the 4x400m medley world relay. they won the last two games. Bailey Lear anchored the foursome of Bryce Didmon, Paris Peeples and Genoa McKeever to a 3:07.47. Jamaica ran a national record 3:08.24 for second.
Great Britain secured bronze as the quartet of Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull and Yemi Mary John clocked 3:09.84.
With the 4x100m medley being such a new event, it was almost certain that another world record would fall. Jamaica’s quartet of Akeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Goldson and Tia Clayton won the race in 39.62, ahead of Canada’s 40.23.
The medley relays also served as the main qualifying track for the final World Athletics Championships in Budapest this September.
The earlier qualifiers served as the lead-up to next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
Five British teams – the 4x100m medley, the 4x400m medley, the men’s 4x100m, the women’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x100m – have booked their places on the plane to China.
