Brits complete clean sweep in Olympic relay qualification

World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas sees Britain and the United States in impressive form as the seal Paris 2024 places

United States dominated the second day of the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas with victories in four of the five finals, but it was also a good weekend for Britain as they joined the United States as one of only two nations to qualify all of their teams for the Olympics.

Following the first day of action, the United States set an event record of 41.85 in the women’s 4x100m and also the mixed 4x400m with 3:10.73.

Botswana were also celebrating as they won the men’s 4x400m in a world lead of 2:59.11 in the absence of the United States, who were disqualified in the heats on Saturday but still managed to qualify for Paris in this event with a second chance effort on Sunday.

A total of 70 teams have now qualified for the relays in Paris following this event in The Bahamas. As well as the United States and Britain enjoying a ‘full house’ the following nations qualified four teams for the Games – France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Poland and Nigeria.

British teams finished third, fourth, fifth and sixth in their races on Sunday night.

The British successes began with the 4x400m mixed relay who, after finishing third in their semi on Saturday, won their repechage heat in 3:12.99 courtesy of Brodie Young, Laviai Nielsen, Charlie Dobson and Nicole Yeargin.

Young said: “All that was going through my head was ‘try get the team to Paris’! So as my legs were starting to get tired, I was thinking ‘Paris… Paris… Paris,’ just keeping that ambition in my mind was what got me to finish the race.”

The only medal of the night for Britain came in the women’s 4x100m as Alyson Bell, Amy Hunt, Bianca Williams and Aleeya Sibbons ran 42.80 to take bronze behind the United States and France.

Sibbons said: “I’m so glad I came out here it has been such a great experience racing with everyone. I am really excited for what is to come. If we can do this here, God knows what we can achieve in Paris.”

Of course in Paris the Brits will be able to bolster their squad with Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita, too, neither of whom were in The Bahamas.

With Britain switching its line ups from the heats on Saturday, the men’s 4x100m team saw Richard Kilty, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Jona Efoloko and Zharnel Hughes line up as they came fifth in 38.45 as the United States ran out…