Global Sprinters Clash in Guangzhou: World Athletics Relays and Tokyo 2025 Qualification

Top athletes compete in Guangzhou for World Athletics Relays titles and Tokyo 2025 World Championships qualification. Watch live on BBC.

The World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, is set to be a thrilling event as the world's best sprinters compete for titles and crucial qualification spots for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships. This seventh edition of the relays will feature the global debut of the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relay events, alongside traditional women's and men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Star Athletes to Watch

Olympic legends such as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Wayde van Niekerk, Letsile Tebogo, and Shericka Jackson will be among the 730 athletes from 43 countries competing. Canada's men's 4x100m gold-medal-winning team from Paris 2024, led by Andre de Grasse, will aim for their first World Relays title after finishing second to the USA last year. The USA squad, featuring Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton, will be strong contenders, while Great Britain will rely on Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.

Tokyo 2025 Qualification

Qualification for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships is up for grabs across both days of the event. The top 14 teams in each relay category will secure their spots, with the remaining two spots determined by the World Athletics 'top list' ranking system.

Event Schedule and Coverage

The action begins on Saturday, 10 May, with heats for the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays, followed by the first rounds of the women's and men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays. The finals will take place on Sunday, 11 May, with live coverage available on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app.

Saturday, 10 May

  • Mixed 4x100m relay heats
  • Mixed 4x400m relay round one
  • Women's 4x100m relay round one
  • Men's 4x100m relay round one
  • Women's 4x400m relay round one
  • Men's 4x400m relay round one

Sunday, 11 May

  • Mixed 4x100m relay final
  • Mixed 4x400m relay round two
  • Women's 4x400m relay round two
  • Men's 4x400m relay round two
  • Women's 4x100m relay round two
  • Men's 4x100m relay round two
  • Mixed 4x400m relay final
  • Women's 4x100m relay final
  • Men's 4x100m relay final
  • Women's 4x400m relay final
  • Men's 4x400m relay final

Don't miss this exciting weekend of athletics as the world's best compete for glory and a chance to qualify for Tokyo 2025.

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