Great Britain put in a dominant performance during the first day of the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, securing Olympic berths in four of the five relay categories. The men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m teams all performed well enough in their heats to qualify for Paris, though the mixed relay team failed to make the cut. Since the top two finishers from each opening heat automatically qualified, the focus now shifts to the second day of competition, where the teams will fight for more favorable lane assignments.
Great Britain has secured four of the five available relay spots at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, following excellent performances on the first day of the World Athletics Relays event in the Bahamas. The men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams finished first and second in their heats, respectively, and will battle for lane seeding spots on Day 2. The 4x100m men and women qualified on the first day of racing, as did the 4x400m teams, however the mixed team did not. The top two teams from each heat on day one earned a spot in the Olympic Games, while the second day of racing will determine lane seeding positions.
The women's 4x100m relay team, featuring Amy Hunt, Bianca Williams, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, and Asha Philip, secured a victory in the fourth heat with a season-best time of 42.33 seconds, placing second overall behind the US team. After the race, Hunt shared how thrilled the group was with their result.
Hunt described the experience as incredible, mentioning that this was her debut with these teammates. She expressed deep gratitude toward the other women for their trust and mentorship, which helped her feel prepared. For Hunt, crossing the finish line with a smile after a successful baton exchange made this one of the most rewarding races of her career, noting that the team executed their plan perfectly.
The men's 4x100m squad, consisting of Eugene Amo-Dadzie, Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, and Zharnel Hughes, also hit a season-best mark of 38.36 seconds, finishing just behind the host nation, France. In the women's 4x400m, the team of Lina Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin, Hannah Kelly, and Victoria Ohuruogu finished second to Ireland, but their time of 3:24.89 was sufficient to advance them to Day 2.
In the men's 4x400m event, Lewis Davey, Lee Thompson, Toby Harries, and Matthew Hudson-Smith clocked 3:02.10, taking second place behind Italy. The mixed relay team—Laviai Nielsen, Charles Dobson, Ama Pipi, and Brodie Young—finished third in their heat after Ireland and Belgium; however, they still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics if they can secure a top-two finish on the second day. In other news, Kenya has included legendary runner Eliud Kipchoge in its six-man marathon squad for Paris, where he is chasing a historic third Olympic gold in the event.