Record-breaking start for Jamaica

Jamaica became the first nation to dip below the 40-second barrier in the 4x100m mixed relays when they raced to a new world record time of 39.99 seconds on day one of the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.

The quartet of Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Ackeem Blake, and Kadrian Goldson created history when they took the win in heat three.

They finished ahead of the Great Britain, 40.72, and Australia 40.78.

Jamaica improved on the world record of 40.07 which was set just minutes earlier by Canada in heat one.

The win also meant Jamaica advanced to the final of the 4x100m mixed relays set for today and has qualified for the 2027 Beijing World Athletics Championships.

Jamaica also dominated the women’s 4x100m relay and advanced to the final with the fastest time.

Shericka Jackson, Jodean Williams, Lavanya Williams, and Jonielle Smith raced to a season’s best 41.96 to take heat three ahead of Germany, 42.44, and Portugal, 43.11.

Spain was the next-best team on the day as they topped heat one in 42.26 while Canada rounded off the top three teams in 42.39.

Jamaica also earned qualification to the 2027 World Championships in the 4x400m mixed relays when the quartet of Deandre Watkin, Shana-Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson and Rushell Clayton won heat two in three minutes, 11.68 (3:11.68).

They beat Poland, who was second in the heat in 3:13.00, and Nigeria, 3:13.12.

The best performer of the day was Great Britain when they set a world-leading time of 3:06.69 in heat three, with the United States having the next fastest time in heat one, 3:09.82.

REPECHAGE ROUND

Team Jamaica had their share of disappointments at the World Relays as they missed out on qualification in the men’s 4x100m, the men’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x400m-relay events.

In the men’s 4x100m, Jamaica contended without the likes of reigning world champion Oblique Seville and world silver medallist Kishane Thompson.

In their absence, Rohan Watson, Odaine McPherson, Adrian Kerr, and Rasheed Foster combined to post a time of 38.08 for fourth in heat two.

Canada took the win in 37.56, ahead of Germany, 37.67, and Australia, 37.87.

The men’s 4x400m team, including Assinie Wilson, Jevaughn Powell, Jeremy Bembridge, and Reheem Hayles, were also outside the qualification spots when they finished fifth in heat one in a time of 3:00.48.

The women’s quartet of Andrenette Knight, Leah Anderson, Janielle Josephs, and Shiann Salmon also missed out on qualification when they crossed the line in 3:27.19 to finish fifth in heat one of the women’s 4x400m.

All three teams will have a second chance at qualification today in the repechage round, which begins at 7 a.m.

The finals of the mixed 4x100m, the mixed 4x400m and the women’s 4x100 will run after the second round of qualifiers at 9:05 a.m.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com