World Relays' defining moments

Mqondisi Dube | Monday May 11, 2026 06:00

The stage had been set as more than 700 athletes from 40 countries touched down at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in the week leading up the 2026 World Relays.

The two-day carnival delivered lasting moments as the festive crowd played its role in turning the first World Relays held on African soil, into roaring success.

Botswana scores 4x100m first

Botswana's success in the 400m is now well documented. In each and every competition they have earned the right to start as favourites. But on the first day of competition, Botswana excelled in the shortest sprint relay, the 4x100m, qualifying for the World Championships for the first time.

The highlight of the race has to be Tebogo Letsile's anchor as he received the baton in fourth position and still had ground to cover to earn the team a silver medal.

The 2023 World Championships 100m silver medallist showed his raw pace as he powered past two opponents, to lead the team to a second place finish behind America. The local team set a national record of 37.96.

Jamaica shatters mixed relay record

The team of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson, and Tia Clayton set a record of 39.99 on Saturday, which became the new world record. The record was the first-ever sub-40-second run at the World Relays. Canada had earlier set the world record at 40.07 during the heats as the two day competition saw records tumble.

For the Jamaica mixed relay, Goldson proved to be the star of the quartet storming away from the back at the bend, which helped shatter two world records in two days.

On Sunday, running the first medal race of the championship, the Jamaica team improved on their Saturday time, meaning the mixed relays record was broken three times in two days. On a bright, hot day, the Jamaicans ran 39.62 as the Gaborone track proved to be a fast surface,

Australia 4x400m surprise

Australia produced a standout performance in the 4x400m heats, registering a world leading 2:57.30, which was enough to break a long standing Oceania record.

Botswana, let down by a baton exchange blip, was second in 2:57.52, the third fastest time in World Relays history. Portugal and Zimbabwe also set national records (2:59.01) as the first day set the tone for more records to fall.

The return of Thompson-Herah

Five time Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah thrilled the crowd with a brilliant finish in the 4x100m final, anchoring Jamaica to gold. Thompson-Herah has been out injured since 2024, but showed no signs of setback as she flashed passed a Canadian opponent as she raced towards the finish line.

'Coming down the home straight, I felt like my leg was heavy, like a hamstring, but I knew that I had to bring the team home because we were looking forward to that,' she said after the race.

The icing on the cake

The stadium crowd had been entertained and warmed up enough for a thrilling 4x400m finale which featured a local star-studded cast of Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and 400m world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi.

It was thrilling contest against neighbours, South Africa, with Eppie giving the home team the perfect start. With the crowd expecting 200m champion, Letsile to put daylight, there was a surprise turn as South Africa surged ahead.

Ndori then ran hard to restore a slender lead going into the last and decisive leg. Kebinatshipi then showed the crowd why his stock has risen significantly since he won the World Championships in Tokyo last year with a well timed run, to beat South African, Zakithi Nene as they went for the home straight.

Botswana registered a championship record of 2:54.47, the second-fastest time recorded, with now eyes set on the world record of 2:54.29.