The roar inside the stadium in Gaborone rose with every exchange, every stride, every surge down the track.
By the time the baton crossed the finish line, Jamaica had done more than win a race, they had broken through a barrier no nation had ever conquered.
On Saturday’s opening day of the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, Jamaica became the first country in history to run under 40 seconds in the mixed 4x100m relay, storming to a breathtaking world-record time of 39.99 seconds.
The historic quartet of Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Ackeem Blake, and Kadrian Goldson delivered the landmark performance in heat three, combining blistering speed with razor-sharp baton exchanges to etch their names into global track and field history.
Their performance eclipsed the previous world record of 40.07 seconds, which Canada had established only minutes earlier in heat one, turning what had already seemed extraordinary into something unforgettable.
Behind Jamaica, Great Britain clocked 40.72 seconds for second place while Australia followed in 40.78 seconds, but the race belonged entirely to the black, green, and gold.
The victory carried significance beyond the record books. Jamaica’s triumph secured passage to the event final and also guaranteed qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
The Clayton twins ignite Jamaica’s charge
From the opening leg, Jamaica looked determined to make a statement.
Ackeem Blake exploded from the blocks with characteristic aggression before handing off to Tia Clayton, whose smooth acceleration kept Jamaica firmly ahead of the field. Kadrian Goldson maintained the momentum on the curve before Tina Clayton powered home to complete the historic run.
The chemistry among the quartet appeared effortless, but the result was the product of precision under pressure. Every exchange mattered. Every fraction of a second counted. Jamaica found perfection when it mattered most.
And in doing so, they transformed a preliminary heat into one of the defining moments of the championships.
Jamaican women stamp their authority
The country’s dominance continued in the women’s 4x100m relay, where Jamaica once again announced itself as the team to beat.
The quartet of Shericka Jackson, Jodean Williams, Lavanya Williams, and Jonielle Smith surged to a season’s best 41.96 seconds to comfortably win heat three and advance to the final with the fastest qualifying time overall.
Germany finished second in 42.44 seconds while Portugal followed in 43.11 seconds.
Spain emerged as the next-fastest qualifier after taking heat one in 42.26 seconds, with Canada close behind at 42.39 seconds.
For Jamaica, the performance reinforced the nation’s enduring sprint legacy. With Jackson bringing world-class experience and the supporting cast delivering clean transitions and explosive pace, the team looked polished and dangerous heading into the final.
Mixed 4x400m team delivers another qualification triumph
Jamaica also secured another important breakthrough in the mixed 4x400m relay, earning qualification for the 2027 World Championships with an authoritative victory in heat two.
Deandre Watkin, Shana-Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson, and Rushell Clayton combined for a winning time of 3:11.68 minutes, holding off Poland, which finished second in 3:13.00 minutes, and Nigeria, third in 3:13.12 minutes.
While Jamaica controlled its heat impressively, Great Britain delivered the standout performance of the event, producing a world-leading 3:06.69 minutes in heat three. The United States followed closely with 3:09.82 minutes from heat one.
Still, Jamaica’s mission was accomplished: another final secured and another World Championship qualification stamped.
Triumph mixed with frustration
Yet amid the celebrations and record-breaking performances, the opening day also exposed areas of concern for the Jamaicans.
Several traditional powerhouse relay teams failed to secure automatic qualification, leaving the nation facing pressure-filled repechage races.
The men’s 4x100m team endured a difficult outing, especially in the absence of reigning world champion Oblique Seville and world silver medalist Kishane Thompson.
Without their marquee stars, the quartet of Rohan Watson, Odaine McPherson, Adrian Kerr, and Rasheed Foster battled gamely but finished fourth in heat two in 38.08 seconds, outside the automatic qualifying positions.
Canada dominated the race in 37.56 seconds, followed by Germany in 37.67 seconds and Australia in 37.87 seconds.
Quarter-milers left searching for answers
The disappointment continued in the men’s 4x400m relay.
Assinie Wilson, Jevaughn Powell, Jeremy Bembridge, and Reheem Hayles struggled to keep pace with the leading teams and crossed the line fifth in heat one with a time of 3:00.48 minutes, missing qualification.
The women’s 4x400m relay squad also suffered a setback.
Andrenette Knight, Leah Anderson, Janielle Josephs, and Shiann Salmon clocked 3:27.19 minutes to finish fifth in heat one, leaving their hopes of advancement hanging in the balance.
Despite the setbacks, Jamaica’s campaign remains very much alive.
All three disappointed relay squads will return for the repechage round, where another opportunity for qualification awaits on Sunday’s second day.
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