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World Athletics Relays

{{Short description|International biennial track and field sporting event}}

File:World Athletics Relays (wordmark).svg

File:Tommy Robinson National Stadium.jpg National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas hosted the first three editions of the competition.]]

The World Athletics Relays, known as the IAAF World Relays until 2019, is an international biennial track and field sporting event held by World Athletics where teams from around the world compete in relay races, some of which are not part of the standard Olympic programme. The first three editions were set to take place in Nassau, Bahamas at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Originally intended as an annual event, it was later decided to happen every odd year,[http://www.iaaf.org/eventbidding/iaaf-events/iaaf-world-relays IAAF World Relays bidding information] in the same year as the World Athletics Championships for which it serves as a qualification stage.

The competition format for the first edition included the 4 × 100 metres relay, the 4 × 200 metres relay, the 4 × 400 metres relay, the 4 × 800 metres relay and the 4 × 1500 metres relay.{{cite news|title=Bahamas to host inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships|url=http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/607246.html#ixzz23kRZWwiA|access-date=18 August 2012|newspaper=Caribbean 360|archive-date=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329125333/http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/607246.html#ixzz23kRZWwiA|url-status=dead}} The first edition had a $1.4 million prize fund.

From the second edition, the 4 × 1500 metres relay was replaced by the distance medley relay.{{cite web| url = http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/news/world-relays-2015-website| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150208163546/http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/news/world-relays-2015-website| archive-date = 2015-02-08| title = World Relays 2015 website}} However, this was short-lived and was itself replaced by a mixed-gender 4 × 400 metres relay for the third edition.[https://www.iaaf.org/download/download?filename=616ad3fb-d1a8-48d8-952b-4c64fc80834c.pdf&urlSlug=competitions-update-200816 Competitions Update]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-08-21. In 2019, the 2 × 2 × 400 m relay and the shuttle hurdles relay were added to the mixed-gender category.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-world-relay-idUSKCN1P527M |title=Athletics: Mixed shuttle hurdles added to World Relays program |author=Hardik Vyas |work=Reuters |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=4 May 2019}} Starting from the 2024 edition, all the non-Olympic events were removed from the programme and only the mens and women's 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 metres remained, alongside the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay. In the 2025 edition, a mixed 4 × 100 metres will be added to the programme, bringing the total to 6 events.{{Cite web |date=1 January 2025 |title=10 things to look forward to in 2025 |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tokyo25/news/feature/10-things-to-look-forward-to-2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108225429/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tokyo25/news/feature/10-things-to-look-forward-to-2025 |archive-date=8 January 2025 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=World Athletics}}

The upcoming World Athletics Relays will be held in Guangzhou, China at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium on 10 and 11 May 2025.

Championships

class="wikitable"
style="background:#cde;"

! Edition

! Year

! City

! Country

! Date

! Venue

! No. of
Events

! No. of
Countries

! No. of
Athletes

! Top of the
medal table

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 1

|align=center| 2014

| Nassau

| {{BHS}}

| 24–25 May

| Thomas Robinson Stadium

| align=center|10

| align=center|41

| align=center|470

| {{USA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 2

|align=center| 2015

| Nassau

| {{BHS}}

| 2–3 May

| Thomas Robinson Stadium

| align=center|10

| align=center|42

| align=center|584

| {{USA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 3

|align=center| 2017

| Nassau

| {{BHS}}

| 22–23 April

| Thomas Robinson Stadium

| align=center|9

| align=center|35

| align=center|419

| {{USA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 4

|align=center| 2019

| Yokohama

| {{JPN}}

| 11–12 May

| Yokohama International Stadium

| align=center|9

| align=center|43

| align=center|529

| {{USA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 5

|align=center| 2021

| Chorzów

| {{POL}}

| 1–2 May

| Silesian Stadium

| align=center|9

| align=center|37

| align=center|689

| {{ITA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 6

| align=center| 2024

| Nassau

| {{BHS}}

| 4–5 May

| Thomas Robinson Stadium

| align=center|5

| align=center|52

| align=center|893

| {{USA}}

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 2025

| Guangzhou

| {{CHN}}

| 10–11 May

| Guangdong Olympic Stadium

| align=center|6

| align=center|

| align=center|

|

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 8

| align=center| 2026

| Gaborone

| {{BOT}}

| 2–3 May

| Botswana National Stadium

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

|

style="background:#def;"

| align=center| 9

| align=center| 2028

| Nassau

| {{BHS}}

| 22–23 April

| Thomas Robinson Stadium

| align=center|

| align=center|

| align=center|

|

Events

class="wikitable sortable"
colspan="2"|Event

! colspan="7" |Year

Discipline

!Gender

!2014

!2015

!2017

!2019

!2021

!2024

!2025

rowspan="3" |4 × 100 metres relay

|Men

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

Mixed

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

Women

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

Shuttle hurdles relay

|Mixed

|✗

|✗

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

rowspan="2" |4 × 200 metres relay

|Men

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

Women

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

rowspan="3" |4 × 400 metres relay

|Men

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

Mixed

|✗

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

Women

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|style="background:#def;"|✓

2 × 2 × 400 metres relay

|Mixed

|✗

|✗

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

rowspan="2" |4 × 800 metres relay

|Men

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

Women

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

rowspan="2" |Distance medley relay

|Men

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

Women

|✗

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

rowspan="2" |4 × 1500 metres relay

|Men

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

Women

| style="background:#def;" |✓

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

|✗

Championships records

{{anchor|CR}}

=Men=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; width: 95%;"
Event

!Record

!Athlete

!Nationality

!Date

!Meet

!Place

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

4 × 100 m relay

|37.38

|Mike Rodgers
Justin Gatlin
Tyson Gay
Ryan Bailey

|{{flagu|United States}}

|2 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's 4×100m Final Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-4X1-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=325997790|publisher=IAAF|date=2 May 2015|access-date=4 May 2015}}

4 × 200 m relay

|1:18.63

|Nickel Ashmeade
Warren Weir
Jermaine Brown
Yohan Blake

|{{flagu|Jamaica}}

|24 May 2014

|2014 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite news|title=Jamaica men break 4x200 metre relay record at IAAF World Relays in Nassau - and without Usain Bolt|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/10854876/Jamaica-men-break-4x200-metre-relay-record-at-IAAF-World-Relays-in-Nassau-and-without-Usain-Bolt.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|author=Simon Hart|date=25 May 2014|access-date=25 May 2014}}

4 × 400 m relay

|2:57.25

|David Verburg
Tony McQuay
Christian Taylor
LaShawn Merritt

|{{flagu|United States}}

|25 May 2014

|2014 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's 4x400m Relay Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/iaaf-world-relays-5409/results/men/4x400-metres-relay/final/result#resultheader|publisher=IAAF|date=25 May 2014|access-date=25 May 2014}}

4 × 800 m relay

|7:04.84

|Duane Solomon
Erik Sowinski
Casimir Loxsom
Robby Andrews

|{{flagu|United States}}

|3 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's 4×800m Final Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-4X8-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=1217389009|publisher=IAAF|date=2 May 2015|access-date=4 May 2015}}

Distance medley relay

|9:15.50

|Kyle Merber 2:53.56 (1200 m)
Brycen Spratling 45.95 (400 m)
Brandon Johnson 1:44.75 (800 m)
Ben Blankenship 3:51.24 (1600 m)

|{{flagu|United States}}

|3 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's Distance Medley Relay Final Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-DISMEAD-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=-2055929315|publisher=IAAF|date=3 May 2015|access-date=4 May 2015}}

4 × 1500 m relay

|14:22.22

|Collins Cheboi
Silas Kiplagat
James Kiplagat Magut
Asbel Kiprop

|{{flagu|Kenya}}

|25 May 2014

|2014 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's 4×1500m Relay Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/iaaf-world-relays-5409/results/men/4x1500-metres-relay/final/result#resultheader|publisher=IAAF|date=25 May 2014|access-date=26 May 2014}}

=Women=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; width: 95%;"
Event

!Record

!Athlete

!Nationality

!Date

!Meet

!Place

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

4 × 100 m relay

|41.85

|Tamari Davis
Gabrielle Thomas
Celera Barnes
Melissa Jefferson

|{{flagu|United States}}

|5 May 2024

|2024 Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{Cite web |date=5 May 2024 |title=4 x 100 Metres Relay Women results |url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7193343/AT-4X1-W-f----.RS6.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506080152/https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7193343/AT-4X1-W-f----.RS6.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2024 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=World Athletics}}

4 × 200 m relay

|1:29.04

|Jura Levy
Shericka Jackson
Sashalee Forbes
Elaine Thompson

|{{flagu|Jamaica}}

|22 April 2017

|2017 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=4×200m Relay Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/5978/AT-4X2-W-f----.RS6.pdf?v=1579640050|publisher=IAAF|date=22 April 2017|access-date=23 April 2017}}

4 × 400 m relay

|3:19.39

|Phyllis Francis
Natasha Hastings
Sanya Richards-Ross
Francena McCorory

|{{flagu|United States}}

|3 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Women's 4×400m Relay Final B Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-4X4-W-f2----.RS6.pdf?v=-1947870950|publisher=IAAF|date=3 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015}}

4 × 800 m relay

|8:00.62

|Chanelle Price
Maggie Vessey
Molly Beckwith-Ludlow
Alysia Johnson Montaño

|{{flagu|United States}}

|3 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Women's 4×800m Relay Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-4X8-W-f----.RS6.pdf?v=-1971160939|publisher=IAAF|date=3 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015}}

Distance medley relay

|10:36.50

|Treniere Moser 3:18.38 (1200 m)
Sanya Richards-Ross 50.12 (400 m)
Ajee' Wilson 2:00.08 (800 m)
Shannon Rowbury 4:27.92 (1600 m)

|{{flagu|United States}}

|2 May 2015

|2015 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Women's Distance Medley Relay Final Results|url=http://dt9guucc6nuua.cloudfront.net/competitiondocuments/pdf/5676/AT-DISMEAD-W-f----.RS6.pdf?v=502842072|publisher=IAAF|date=2 May 2015|access-date=4 May 2015}}

4 × 1500 m relay

|16:33.58

|Mercy Cherono
Faith Kipyegon
Irene Jelagat
Hellen Onsando Obiri

|{{flagu|Kenya}}

|24 May 2014

|2014 IAAF World Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Men's 4x800m Relay Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/iaaf-world-relays-5409/results/women/4x1500-metres-relay/final/result#resultheader|publisher=IAAF|date=24 May 2014|access-date=25 May 2014}}

=Mixed=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; width: 95%;"
Event

!Record

!Athlete

!Nationality

!Date

!Meet

!Place

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

4 × 400 m relay

|3:10.73

|Matthew Boling
Lynna Irby-Jackson
Willington Wright
Kendall Ellis

|{{flagu|United States}}

|5 May 2024

|2024 Relays

|Nassau, Bahamas

|{{cite web|title=Mixed 4×400m Relay Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7193343/AT-4X4-X-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=5 May 2024|access-date=6 May 2024}}

2 × 2 × 400 m relay

|3:36.92

|Ce'Aira Brown
Donavan Brazier

|{{flagu|United States}}

|11 May 2019

|2019 Relays

|Yokohama, Japan

|{{Cite web|title=2×2×400m Relay Result|url=https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/iaaf-world-relays-6359/results/mixed/2x2x400-metres-relay/final/result|publisher=IAAF|date=11 May 2019|access-date=10 August 2019}}

Shuttle hurdle relay

|54.96

|Christina Clemons
Freddie Crittenden
Sharika Nelvis
Devon Allen

|{{flagu|United States}}

|11 May 2019

|2019 Relays

|Yokohama, Japan

|{{Cite web|title=Shuttle Hurdles Relay Result|url=https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays/iaaf-world-relays-6359/results/mixed/shuttle-hurdles-relay/final/result|publisher=IAAF|date=11 May 2019|access-date=10 August 2019}}

Medal table

Updated: May 2024{{cite news|title=South Africa to lose relay World’s gold due to doping ban to Thando Dlodlo|url=https://athleticsillustrated.com/south-africa-to-lose-relay-worlds-gold-due-to-doping-ban-to-thando-dlodlo/|website=athleticsillustrated.com|author=Christopher Kelsall|date=9 March 2022|access-date=23 March 2022}}

{{Medals table

| caption =

| host =

| flag_template = flagcountry

| event =

| team =

| gold_USA = 26 | silver_USA = 7 | bronze_USA = 2

| gold_JAM = 5 | silver_JAM = 8 | bronze_JAM = 6

| gold_POL = 3 | silver_POL = 8 | bronze_POL = 1

| gold_KEN = 3 | silver_KEN = 6 | bronze_KEN = 2

| gold_GER = 3 | silver_GER = 1 | bronze_GER = 4

| gold_ITA = 3 | silver_ITA = 0 | bronze_ITA = 1

| gold_FRA = 1 | silver_FRA = 2 | bronze_FRA = 2

| gold_CAN = 1 | silver_CAN = 2 | bronze_CAN = 1

| gold_BAH = 1 | silver_BAH = 2 | bronze_BAH = 0

| gold_TTO = 1 | silver_TTO = 1 | bronze_TTO = 2

| gold_BOT = 1 | silver_BOT = 1 | bronze_BOT = 1

| gold_NED = 1 | silver_NED = 1 | bronze_NED = 1

| gold_BRA = 1 | silver_BRA = 1 | bronze_BRA = 0

| gold_NGR = 1 | silver_NGR = 0 | bronze_NGR = 1

| gold_CUB = 1 | silver_CUB = 0 | bronze_CUB = 0

| gold_JPN = 0 | silver_JPN = 3 | bronze_JPN = 2

| gold_RSA = 0 | silver_RSA = 2 | bronze_RSA = 0

| gold_AUS = 0 | silver_AUS = 1 | bronze_AUS = 6

| gold_GBR = 0 | silver_GBR = 1 | bronze_GBR = 6

| gold_CHN = 0 | silver_CHN = 1 | bronze_CHN = 2

| gold_IRL = 0 | silver_IRL = 1 | bronze_IRL = 1

| gold_BAR = 0 | silver_BAR = 1 | bronze_BAR = 0

| gold_BLR = 0 | silver_BLR = 1 | bronze_BLR = 0

| gold_SKN = 0 | silver_SKN = 1 | bronze_SKN = 0

| gold_BEL = 0 | silver_BEL = 0 | bronze_BEL = 3

| gold_DEN = 0 | silver_DEN = 0 | bronze_DEN = 1

| gold_DOM = 0 | silver_DOM = 0 | bronze_DOM = 1

| gold_ECU = 0 | silver_ECU = 0 | bronze_ECU = 1

| gold_ETH = 0 | silver_ETH = 0 | bronze_ETH = 1

| gold_POR = 0 | silver_POR = 0 | bronze_POR = 1

| gold_RUS = 0 | silver_RUS = 0 | bronze_RUS = 1

| gold_SLO = 0 | silver_SLO = 0 | bronze_SLO = 1

}}

Multiple wins

Multiple wins athletes are:{{cite web|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/download/downloadresultinfo?filename=20449fe1-151d-452d-9210-15130493c05a.pdf&urlSlug=facts-figures-statistical-handbook|title=Yokohama 2019 Facts & Figures|publisher=worldathletics.org|access-date=28 April 2021}}

;Three wins

class="wikitable"
AthleteCountryEvents
Nickel Ashmeade{{JAM}}Men’s 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014/2015
Tony McQuay{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017
LaShawn Merritt{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017
David Verburg{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017
Natasha Hastings{{USA}}Women’s 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017
Chanelle Price{{USA}}Women’s 4 × 800 m 2014/2015/2017
Sanya Richards-Ross{{USA}}Women’s 4 × 400 m 2014/2015, Distance Medley Relay 2015

;Two wins

class="wikitable"
AthleteCountryEvents
Yohan Blake{{JAM}}Men’s 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014
Justin Gatlin{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 100 m 2015/2017
Casimir Loxsom{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 800 m 2015/2017
Erik Sowinski{{USA}}Men’s 4 × 800 m 2015/2017
Warren Weir{{JAM}}Men’s 4 × 200 m 2014/2015
Phyllis Francis{{USA}}Women’s 4 × 400 m 2015/2017
Ajeé Wilson{{USA}}Women’s 4 × 800 m 2014, Distance Medley Relay 2015
Quanera Hayes

|{{USA}}

|Women’s 4 × 400 m 2017/2024

Gabrielle Thomas

|{{USA}}

|Women’s 4 × 100 m 2024, Women’s 4 × 400 m 2024

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays World Athletics Relays] on worldathletics.org
  • {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905165414/https://iaafworldrelays.com/yokohama2019/|date=2019-09-05|title=Yokohama 2019 Official Website}}

{{World Athletics Relays}}

{{Championships organised by World Athletics}}

{{International athletics}}

Category:Track relay races

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2014

Relays

Relays

Category:Biennial athletics competitions