Canadian relay teams put on a show this weekend at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 in Gaborone, Botswana. By the end, five Canadian teams had secured their spots for the 2027 World Championships, speeding to solid finishes and national records.

Women’s 4x100m breaks through with national record

The women’s 4x100m relay team of Sade McCreath, Audrey Leduc, Marie-Éloïse Leclair and Donna Ntambue delivered several of Canada’s top moments, briefly setting a world record of 40.07 in their heat on Saturday. Just 10 minutes later, Jamaica won their heat in 39.99.

In the final, Canada led for part of the race before Jamaica surged ahead late, when Elaine Thompson-Herah took over as anchor. Canada held on for second in 42.17, setting a new national record. Spain finished third in 42.31.

The team also set a national record last year, when they ran 42.46.

Mixed 4x100m takes silver behind record-setting Jamaica

Canada’s mixed 4x100m team of Eliezer Adjibi, Leclair, Duan Asemota and Leduc finished second in 40.23. Leduc pulled Canada into first on the final leg, but Jamaica moved ahead again, setting a world record of 39.62 after already lowering it in the heats.

The team had already shown its speed earlier in the weekend, running 40.07 in the heats. A year ago, the Canadian team that included McCreath, Adjibi, Leclair and Asemota won in 40.30.

Women’s 4x400m returns to the podium

The women’s 4x400m team of Zoe Sherar, Lauren Gale, Jasneet Nijjar and Savannah Sutherland finished third in 3:22.66, a season’s best. Proctor filled in for Sutherland to beat Norway (3:20.96), who won in a world-leading time, with Spain taking second (3:21.25)

It was a jump ahead of last year’s final, where Canada finished seventh; they took sixth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Mixed 4x400m sets national record in qualifying round

Canada’s mixed 4x400m team, consisting of Nathan George, Ella Clayton, Ryder Rattee and Dianna Proctor set a national record in the qualifying round on Sunday, running 3:12.43 to take third behind Belgium and Japan. Proctor anchored the team, taking the baton in third before moving past Belgium (3:12.79) and Japan (3:12.86) to win by three metres.

The time broke the previous Canadian record of 3:12.95, set last year.

Men’s 4x100m team pulls up short in the final

A day after winning their qualifying heat in 37.56, the men’s 4x100m team of Aaron Brown, Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney and Jerome Blake finished seventh in 40.06. Blake appeared to have injured his right leg and pulled up on the second leg before getting the baton to Rodney.

The United States won the final in 37.43, ahead of South Africa (37.49) and Germany (37.76).