Reigning Commonwealth champion Elaine Thompson-Herah continued her build-up to Glasgow 2026 by anchoring the Jamaican women to victory in the 4x100m final at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist was forced to miss Paris 2024 after suffering an Achillies injury ahead of the Games and only returned to racing earlier this year after nearly 20 months away from elite competition.
Thompson-Herah marked her major event return with an encouraging performance, powering past Canadian Donna Ntambue to secure victory for her team in 42.00 secs.
“I’m grateful that I crossed the line healthy,” the Jamaican told World Athletics.
“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.”
The 33-year-old, who confirmed ahead of her return to the track that she would be targeting a title defence at Glasgow 2026, continued; “We came here in high spirits and I’m satisfied to walk away with the gold. I came here hungry for more and it worked out perfectly.”
The most celebrated result of the two-day competition was undoubtedly that recorded in the Men’s 4x400m final, where hosts and reigning World champions Botswana delivered an expected, but high-pressure victory.
The same quartet who achieved that stunning success in Tokyo last year – Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi – reunited and finished in a commanding championship record time of 2:54.47.
“This was the best moment in my career,” stated Olympic 200m gold medallist Tebago. “I’m sure there is more to come, but this has been my biggest highlight so far.
“It is not about the medals at the Olympics or World Championships but how the crowd has held us together.”
South Africa, the bronze medallists at Tokyo 2025, took silver, with Australia third.
The Men’s 4x100m final saw a strong South African team claim silver behind the USA.
Their line-up featured Gold Coast 2018 100m champion Akani Simbine, who also placed second at Birmingham 2022, as well as fellow Paris 2024 Olympic relay silver medallist Bradley Nkoana.
“Since 2024, after tying the knot, it has been growth and I let go of that thing of trying to chase the medals and trying to prove to the world that I am a great sprinter when my results speak for themselves,” Simbine told World Athletics.
“So, it’s just me running free and being on the track and just feeling the love from everybody that supported me and being with me through this long career that I didn’t even plan.”
The Mixed 4x400m will feature in a Commonwealth Games programme for the first time at Glasgow 2026 and Jamaica will be strong contenders after their team, featuring Birmingham 2022 athlete Rushell Clayton, took silver, behind the USA.
“It feels amazing to come to these championships and go back home with a medal, and a medal with a diamond, surreal,” said Clayton. “This is for keeps, whenever I have kids, I will show them.
“Now, the focus is continue training hard and have a great season ahead.”
Great Britain’s squad, featuring Team England Commonwealth athlete Lina Nielsen, as well as fellow Olympic medallist and Glasgow 2026 contender Yemi Mary John, completed the podium places in third.
The Women’s 4x400m saw Canada force their way on to the podium, by edging third ahead of Great Britain, with Norway claiming gold and Spain silver.
“We did something amazing as a collective,” Savannah Sutherland told World Athletics. “In the final leg, I just ran for my life because I knew they had done everything possible they could to put me in the best position, so I just wanted to bring it home for them.”
While the Mixed 4x100m discipline is not part of the Commonwealth or Olympic Games programmes, it forms a strong part of the World Athletics Relays line-up and produced arguable the most eye-catching set of performances at the 2026 edition.
Jamaica set world records of 39.99 and 39.62 secs in the heats and final respectively, with the quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton claiming gold.
Defending champions Canada, who would ultimately take silver, had earlier set a world record of 40.07 in the first heat, before Jamaica lowered it moments later.
