The Canadian men’s 4×100-meter relay team comprising Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Jerome Blake secured spots at the upcoming world championships following their impressive performance at the World Athletics Relays. They triumphed in their qualifying heat in Gaborone, Botswana, clocking a world-leading time of 37.56 seconds, just a fraction off their winning time at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
This victory not only advanced the team to the final on Sunday but also guaranteed their automatic qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships. Additionally, Canada’s women’s and mixed 4x100m teams also shined, with one team setting a new world record. Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-Éloïse Leclair, Duan Asemota, and Audrey Leduc established a mixed 4x100m world-record time of 40.07 seconds, securing their spot in next year’s worlds and the Sunday final.
Moreover, the top six teams in each mixed relay final in Gaborone will earn automatic qualification for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Despite Jamaica breaking the world record shortly after Canada, Leduc expressed confidence in her team’s potential for further improvement.
In the women’s events, Canada’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams also excelled, with multiple teams securing places at next year’s world championships. The action continues on Sunday as the Canadian team looks to secure further world championship qualifications in the upcoming rounds. Viewers can catch the live stream on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, with additional coverage on CBC Sports Presents later in the day.
