If there was one event every track and field athlete had circled this season, it was the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, held May 10–11—the gateway to qualifying for the World Championships in Tokyo. Stakes? Sky-high. And when it comes to relays, the U.S. women have set the gold standard, time and time again. Just think back to Paris: double gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m, thanks largely to the steady hand of a coach who knew exactly how to get the best out of them. But now? That same woman’s coach is watching from afar and something’s off, dropping cryptic posts on X that hint at frustration, maybe even disappointment, and at the center of it all? the team’s performance halfway around the world at Guangzhou. What happened?

Well, if anyone knows what it takes to build championship relay teams, it’s Mechelle Lewis Freeman—a 2008 U.S. Olympian and the two-time Olympic gold-winning coach who led the American women to relay dominance at the 2024 Paris Games. But fast forward to the 2025 World Athletics Relays, and something didn’t sit right with her. While she didn’t call anyone out directly, her cryptic post on X—”So many things I wish I could say…”—had fans and insiders reading between the lines. Was it disappointment? Frustration? Both? It didn’t take long to find out why.

Starting with the women’s 4x400m relay, the U.S. track and field team:  Paris Peoples, Karimah Davis, Maya Singletary, and Bailey Lear, had a strong showing but couldn’t hold off the competition. The Americans (3:24.72) led for most of the race but were overtaken by Spain in the final stretch, with Spain setting a national record of 3:24.13.  Spain, with their team of Paula Sevilla, Eva Santidrian, Daniela Fra, and Blanca Hervas, executed a near-perfect race, taking the women’s 4x400m crown, leaving Team USA in second by a significant margin.

Then came the women’s 4x100m relay, and this is where things went south. Despite their obvious talent, Team USA’s Mikiah Brisco, Caisja Chandler, Kayla White, and Twanisha Terry couldn’t quite get it together. The handoffs were sloppy, the rhythm was off, and they finished outside the medals, and obviously, failed to secure a ticket to Tokyo, with a time of 42.38 seconds. Considering the strength of the USA’s sprint pool, this was nothing short of a shock. However, Great Britain, with Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Amy Hunt, Bianca Williams, and Success Eduan, produced one of the most electrifying finishes which is 42.21 in recent memory, registering a season’s best time.

Spain was the second who set a national record of 42.28 seconds. Jamaica, the pre-race favorites, had to take bronze in 42.33 seconds with Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton, and Shericka Jackson rounding out their squad. The USA team fumbled big time. So, the looming question: Why didn’t this track and field Coach, Freeman, speak up directly? Well, it seems there’s more to the story!

USA Track and Field’s Relay future in question after Freeman’s exit

Well, it looks like resignation is the reason Freeman didn’t address it head-on! Mechelle Lewis Freeman has been the backbone of Team USA’s relay success for years. As the Head Women’s Relays Coach, she’s been the driving force behind some of the nation’s most successful relay teams, working with track and field stars like Sha’Carri Richardson to bring home medals. So, when Freeman dropped the bombshell earlier this year that she’s stepping down just months before the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, it left everyone shocked. Why would the coach responsible for so much success walk away now, when the stakes are higher than ever?

Fans and athletes alike are trying to figure out what led to this sudden decision, especially with three relay spots still up for grabs. Freeman’s knack for picking the right athletes and putting them in the right spots to shine has made her a key figure in USA Track and Field. As she put it in an interview, “When you’re thinking about making a successful 4×100 relay team, you’re thinking about placing athletes in positions where they’ll thrive and where they’ll perform best.” Her ability to make those tough calls has been a huge part of her success, and now, with the World Championships on the horizon, people are left wondering who will take the reins.

Freeman’s emotional goodbye on X said it all: “Thank you, Lord, for choosing me to show the world how to WIN against it all. To the athletes, keep making history and much love. ❤️” With Freeman gone, the future of the USA’s relay teams is up in the air, and track fans are eager to see who will step in next.