Great Britain and Northern Ireland's mixed 4x400m team delivered a stunning bronze-medal performance at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, clocking 3:08.24 to finish behind powerhouse squads from the USA and Jamaica. The quartet of Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, and Yemi Mary John not only claimed a podium spot but also secured automatic qualification for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest this September.

This was just the beginning of a successful weekend for GB, as four additional relay teams punched their tickets to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The men's 4x100m, women's 4x400m, and mixed 4x100m teams all advanced to Sunday's finals from Saturday's heats, earning coveted spots in China next year. The women's 4x100m squad, after a heartbreaking disqualification following a second-place finish in their initial heat on day one, rallied in the repechage round. They crossed the line second to snatch one of the remaining four World Championship slots—a testament to their resilience under pressure.

However, not every story had a fairytale ending. The men's 4x400m team, after placing seventh in their opening race, managed third in their repechage and will need to chase a time-based qualifying mark for Beijing at a later date. The women's 4x400m squad settled for fourth, while both the men's and mixed 4x100m teams failed to complete their finals after baton mishaps.

These results come on the heels of a historic 2024 Paris Olympics, where British athletes medaled in all five relay events. Yet last year's World Championships in Tokyo saw them leave empty-handed from the relays, making this weekend's automatic qualifications a vital step toward redemption. The 2027 Worlds in Beijing now offer a fresh canvas for these squads to build on their Olympic momentum.

For fans tracking the athletes who'll be representing GB on the track, here are the key names to watch:

- Women's 4x100m: Renee Regis (Imani-Lara Lansiquot), Aleeya Sibbons, Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Success Eduan
- Men's 4x100m: Jeremiah Azu, Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Romell Glave
- Women's 4x400m: Laviai Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin, Poppy Malik (Emily Newnham), Charlotte Henrich
- Men's 4x400m: Lewis Davey, Toby Harries, Lee Thompson, Seamus Derbyshire
- Mixed 4x100m: Eliot Jones (Jona Efoloko), Alyson Bell, Jeriel Quainoo, Desiree Henry (Kissiwaa Mensah)
- Mixed 4x400m: Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John