World Athletics Relays 2025: A Showcase of Speed, Kenya’s Sprinting Rise, and World Athletics Championships 2025 Qualification
The 2025 World Athletics Relays, held on May 10-11 at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou, China, marked the seventh edition of this electrifying global track event and the first time it was hosted in China. With 43 nations and 730 athletes competing across six relay formats, the event served as a critical qualifier for the highly anticipated World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, set for September 13-21, 2025. The relays featured men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, and the debut of the mixed 4x100m, captivating audiences with high-stakes races and a glimpse into the future of sprinting. Beyond the competition, the event underscored the growing prominence of short-distance running in nations like Kenya, traditionally known for long-distance dominance, and highlighted the global appeal of athletics through strong attendance and significant prize money.
Winners and Highlights
The 2025 World Athletics Relays saw five different nations claim titles across the six events, showcasing the depth of global sprinting talent. South Africa delivered a standout performance, winning the men’s 4x400m and setting a world-leading 37.84 in the men’s 4x100m qualifying round, anchored by Akani Simbine, who has had a near perfect year, with his wins in all his 100m races including two Diamond League meetings in Xiamen and Shanghai. South Africa is the first African country to win a Gold medal in the Men’s 4x100m Relay at the competition. Additionally, South Africa Women won a Bronze medal in the Women’s 4x400m.
Great Britain secured the women’s 4x100m title, while Spain edged out the United States to win the women’s 4x400m. Canada made history by taking the inaugural mixed 4x100m relay, a thrilling addition to the program that featured elite sprinters like Aaron Brown and Andre De Grasse. The United States, despite a baton drop in the mixed 4x100m, earned a bronze in the men’s 4x400m and qualified for Tokyo in multiple events, though they missed the women’s 4x100m final. Jamaica, with sprinting legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Yohan Blake, faced challenges, including a baton mishap in the men’s 4x100m, but remained a formidable presence.
In a surprising turn of events, Botswana’s athletics team faced a significant challenge at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, when three key members of their men’s 4x400m relay team—Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Collen Kebinatshipi—withdrew for personal reasons, as announced by the Botswana Athletics Association on May 5. This trio, left a void that was filled by a younger, less experienced squad, including Karabo Mothibi, Larona Mayana, Godiraone Kevin Lobatlamang, and Tumo Statago Van Wyk. Despite the absence of their star athletes, Botswana’s new 4x100m relay team showed resilience, clocking a national record of 38.49 seconds in Heat 4 of the World Championships Qualifying Round 1, though they finished fifth and did not advance. The men’s 4x400m team, also impacted by the withdrawals, ran an impressive 2:58.27, a commendable time for a makeshift lineup, signaling promise for future competitions like the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
Medal Table
Kenya’s Performance and Sprinting Revolution
Kenya’s participation in the 2025 World Athletics Relays was a testament to the country’s evolving athletics landscape, particularly its emergence as a sprinting force. Historically celebrated for middle- and long-distance running, with icons like David Rudisha and Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya is now making waves in shorter distances, driven by talents like Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man and 9th fastest of all time in the 100 meters.
Men’s 4x100m: Kenya’s quartet of Boniface Mweresa, Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack Babu, and Steve Odhiambo set a national record of 38.35 in Heat 2 on Day 1, finishing third behind South Africa and Germany. While they missed automatic qualification, they secured a World Championships berth on Day 2, finishing second in their heat with 38.51, a historic achievement for a nation known for endurance running. Despite not advancing to the relay finals, this qualification marks a significant milestone.
Mixed 4x400m: Kenya shone brightly, clocking 3:13.41 to finish third in their heat, earning a spot in the Tokyo World Championships and the relay final on Day 2. This performance, highlighted by strong teamwork, placed them among the top 14 teams globally, reinforcing their growing relay prowess.
Men’s 4x400m and Women’s 4x400m: Kenya’s men’s 4x400m team, featuring athletes like Kevin Kipkorir, competed but did not secure a top-14 finish for Tokyo qualification. The women’s 4x400m team, including emerging stars like Mercy Adongo Oketch, also fell short of qualification but showed promise for future events.
Kenya’s sprinting revolution, as noted by Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, reflects a strategic shift. “There’s a shift,” Tuwei said, emphasizing the nation’s journey toward Tokyo and beyond. The inclusion of sprinters like Omanyala, his brother Isaac Omurwa, and Mark Otieno in the 4x100m lineup signals a new era. This progress builds on modest but encouraging showings at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where Kenya competed in relay events without reaching finals. The 2025 Relays performance, particularly the men’s 4x100m qualification, underscores Kenya’s potential to challenge sprinting powerhouses like the United States and Jamaica.
Importance and Success of the Event
The World Athletics Relays is a cornerstone of the global athletics calendar, serving as both a competitive spectacle and a gateway to major championships. In 2025, the event’s primary significance was its role as a qualifier for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, with the top 14 teams in each relay (except the mixed 4x100m, which is not on the Tokyo program) securing spots. Five events—men’s and women’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m—offered qualification opportunities, with the remaining two spots per event to be determined by world rankings by August 24, 2025. This system ensured that 16 teams per relay will compete in Tokyo, intensifying the stakes in Guangzhou.
The Relays’ success was evident in its global reach and competitive intensity. The debut of the mixed 4x100m relay added innovation, drawing attention to gender-balanced formats that will feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium, hosting its first World Relays, provided a world-class stage, with live broadcasts on platforms like Peacock, CNBC, SuperSport, and World Athletics Inside Track ensuring broad accessibility.
Attendance and Cash Prizes
The Guangdong Olympic Stadium, with a capacity of over 50,000, saw robust crowds, particularly for evening sessions featuring finals. The event’s timing, coinciding with China’s growing interest in athletics, and the presence of global stars like Fraser-Pryce and De Grasse likely boosted turnout. The passionate atmosphere was amplified by local support for China’s teams, which qualified for Tokyo in multiple events as the host nation.
Financial incentives added to the event’s allure. The top eight teams in each event received prize money, with amounts structured to reward excellence and encourage participation. The prices ranged from $2,000 (Ksh. 258,000) up to $40,000 (Ksh. 5.1 million).
Kenya’s Sprinting Future and Tokyo Aspirations
Kenya’s performance at the 2025 World Athletics Relays signals a bright future in sprinting. The men’s 4x100m qualification for Tokyo, achieved against sprinting giants, is a historic step, while the mixed 4x400m success highlights the depth of Kenya’s relay talent. These achievements are part of a broader strategy to diversify Kenya’s athletics portfolio, with investments in coaching, training camps, and talent identification. As Athletics Kenya looks ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana—the first time Africa will host the event—the focus is on building cohesion and belief.
The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will feature Kenya in at least two relays, with the potential for more through world rankings. The men’s 4x100m team, led by Omanyala, will aim to make history by reaching the final, a feat that would cement Kenya’s sprinting credentials. The championships, hosted at Tokyo’s National Stadium, will include 49 events, with relays concluding the program on September 21, offering Kenya a chance to shine on a global stage.
Conclusion
The 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou was a resounding success, blending high-level competition, innovative formats, and significant qualification opportunities for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. Kenya’s standout performances, particularly in the men’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m, underscored its transformation into a sprinting contender, challenging its long-distance legacy. With strong attendance, substantial prize money, and global engagement initiatives, the event reinforced athletics’ universal appeal. As the world looks to Tokyo, the Relays have set the stage for a thrilling championship, where Kenya and other nations will vie for glory in a celebration of speed, teamwork, and athletic excellence.
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