by Alfonz Juck
WORLD RELAYS NEWS
GUANGZHOU (CHN): World Relays are coming to China, for the first time, to the Tianhe Sports Center in Guangzhou. Relay teams will fight on Saturday and Sunday not only for World Relays titles, medals and places, but mainly for the qualification tickets for the Tokyo World Championships. First day is dedicated to heats, or (except for mixed 4x100m) to the World Championships Qualifying Round 1. Top two teams from each of four heats will not only qualify for Sunday’s final, but also secure the Tokyo ticket. Sunday’s session is divided into two parts. First, all teams that on Saturday stayed out of the final race, will contest the World Championships Qualifying Round 2, with the top two teams from three heats securing the Tokyo spots. The conclusion of the event belongs to the final races of top 8 teams from Saturday’s heats.
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): World Indoor Champion Jeremiah Azu has withdrawn from the British team for this weekend’s World Relays due to injury, UK Athletics informs. Ama Pipi, Lewis Davey and Alex Haydock-Wilson have also withdrawn due to injury.
GUANGZHOU (CHN): Akani Simbine (South Africa), Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (Japan), Rhasidat Adeleke (Ireland), Liang Xiaojing (China) and Su Bingtian (China) will attend the press conference for the World Relays, alongside World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. It will take place at 12:30 (local time) tomorrow. The press conference will be livestreamed on World Athletics’ YouTube channel.
GUANGZHOU (CHN): Teams from Nigeria and the Dominican Republic will not compete at the World Relays this weekend, due to difficulties in obtaining visas for athletes.
Short event by event preview
Women’s 4x100m: Olympic and World champions from USA (Twanisha Terry is the only big name) should renew their Olympic clash with Great Britain and Germany, however both teams are missing big names. Jamaica, with Shericka Jackson, should challenge, as would also Canada, China, Netherlands, Australia and France.
Women’s 4x400m: USA is the usual favourite, Jamaica and Great Britain are also very strong, while Netherlands is missing. Poland, with Natalia Bukowiecka and Justyna Swiety-Ersetic should be also strong, while surprise could come from Ireland or Canada.
Men’s 4x100m: Tough to preview, with different teams on the podium at the last Olympics and World champs. USA with the highest individual quality (led by Kenny Bednarek), but Olympic champions from Canada in full strength, also worth to watch South Africa led by Akani Simbine, Great Britain and Jamaica with a very strong team (Kishane Thompson, Ackeem Blake), while Italy without Marcell Jacobs does not seem so strong. Australia and Japan could be dark horses.
Men’s 4x400m: USA with most notable names Justin Robinson and Elijah Goodwin, now it looks that South Africa is the biggest threat. Great Britain, Belgium and France will be challengers.
Mixed 4x100m: Highly anticipated debut of a new event, most of sprint-strong countries are entered, Jamaica with the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, however it is in the rules that any athlete named in any discipline can be drafted into the squad for another discipline.
Mixed 4x400m: USA should be a favourite, as their main rival Netherlands does not contest. Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, or Poland can challenge them.
