The World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, kicked off with a bang on Saturday, delivering high-stakes action as teams raced to secure spots at the 2027 World Track and Field Championships in Beijing. The U.S. squad made an impressive start, qualifying in three relays on the first day: the men's and mixed-gender 4x100m, and the mixed 4x400m. By finishing in the top two of their heats, they not only punched their tickets to worlds but also earned a spot in Sunday's finals (live on Peacock at 8:02 a.m. ET).
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Team USA. The women's 4x100m relay team placed fourth in their heat, but they still have a chance to qualify for worlds on Sunday or later in 2027. Notably, the U.S. opted not to enter the women's or men's 4x400m relays, though they can still secure qualification next year.
The real fireworks came in the mixed 4x100m, a relatively new event making its World Championships debut in 2027 and its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games. Jamaica's quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson, and Tia Clayton stormed to a world record of 39.99 seconds—just minutes after Canada had lowered the previous mark to 40.07 in an earlier heat. For context, the mixed 4x100m first appeared globally at the 2025 World Relays, where Canada set the prior best of 40.30.
The stakes remain high for Sunday's finals. The top six teams in the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m will earn spots at the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest (Sept. 11-13). Teams that miss out can still qualify based on the season's best times.
The U.S. roster features speedsters like 2025 U.S. 100m silver medalist Courtney Lindsey and Tokyo Olympian Ronnie Baker, while Jamaica counters with Olympic gold medalists Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson. Host nation Botswana brings its own firepower with Olympic 200m gold medalist Letsile Tebogo and world 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi.
With five different nations winning the six finals at the 2025 World Relays, this year's edition promises more excitement—and a perfect stage for showcasing the world's fastest athletes. Whether you're tracking your favorite sprinters or scouting the latest in performance gear, the action in Botswana is a thrilling preview of what's to come on the global track circuit.