Almost 900 Athletes Set to Descend on the Bahamas for World Relays

Eight hundred and ninety-three athletes from 54 countries will descend on Nassau, Bahamas for the World Athletics Relays, from May 4-5.

A total of 32 teams are entered for the men’s 4-by-100 metres and 30 are entered for the women’s race.

There’ll also be 32 teams for the men’s 4-by-400 metres, 27 for the women’s 4-by-400 metres and 30 in the mixed 4-by-400 metres.

Alrick Swaby Tells us more.

Noah Lyles, who anchored the USA to victory at last year’s World Championships, features on his country’s squad in the men’s 4-by-100 metres alongside world 200-metres leader Courtney Lindsey and Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek.

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, who featured on Italy’s victorious teams at the Tokyo Olympic Games and at the last World Relays, is also entered for the 4-by-100 metres.

Jamaica and Great Britain – who joined USA on the podium at the last World Championships and Olympic Games – have fielded strong teams for the women’s 4-by-100 metres.

The men’s 4-by-400 metres could be one of the most open races of the entire event.

World and Olympic champions USA have a strong team, but Olympic 400-metres champion Steven Gardiner will represent the host nation’s team.

Belgium, featuring world indoor champion Alexander Doom, will be coming off the back of their victory at the World Indoor Championships, while the likes of France, Netherlands, Botswana and Great Britain could also contend for victory.

The mixed 4-by-400 metres is also expected to be highly competitive.

Gardiner and his fellow Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo feature on the host nation squad, but world record-holders USA and Olympic champions Poland both have formidable teams, as do the Netherlands, Olympic silver medallists Dominican Republic and World silver medallists Great Britain.

Olympic qualifying places will be up for grabs on both days of action.

On the first day, the top two teams in each heat will advance to the final on day two, while also securing their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In the finals, on day two, teams will compete for prize money and obtain Olympic lane seeding positions.

All other teams will compete on day two in the additional round where the top two teams in each heat will also qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.