THE WORLD RELAY GOLDEN GIRLS

As a relay programme, our main focus for the season is the World Championships in September. Before we can get too ahead of ourselves, our teams must first qualify through the World Relays, this year held in China. Straight forward? Well you would like to think so. Except World Athletics added some spice into the mix by announcing, just weeks before the World Relays, that the Mixed 4 x 100m will now feature in the LA 2028 Olympics.

With the Mixed 4 x 100m already part of the programme and GB stating our intention to compete from the outset, plans around this event were ramped up to make sure we were fully prepared going into the World Relays.

We also used this competition as an opportunity to give some our developing athletes a chance to compete within our senior teams. This was a particularly proud moment as we selected athletes who had been through our Futures Programme, some of whom I had been coaching since 2021. Not to mention our two Olympic medalist who were part of the first cohort of the Futures Relay Programme back in 2018 - Jeremiah Azu and Amy Hunt.

Following a weeks long camp in Hong Kong to acclimatise, one (rained off) relay practise and travel into China - our teams went to battle for their spots at the World Championships. A top two finish in our heat and qualification into the final, would be enough to secure our places. On a successful day one, it was mission accomplished, all three of our teams qualified for their respective finals the following day.

Day two was finals day, our mixed relay team was up first. They brought home a brilliant bronze and secured a European record in the process. Next up was the women, coming in to the last exchange there are 4-5 teams all still fighting for the win. A stunning anchor leg from Futures Relay athlete Success Eduan, saw GB clinch the gold medal.

Qualification for World Champs

Experience

Insights

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