What’s going on with Jamaica’s relay teams? First off, in the mixed 4x100m, Jamaica didn’t top the charts either. Canada edged them out as the fastest, but they still qualified. Now, flash forward to the women’s 4x100m heats at the World Relays on 9th May. Jamaica came into Heat 2 with a heavy-hitting squad: Tina Clayton, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tia Clayton, and Shericka Jackson. On paper, they should’ve cruised through. But what happened on the track?

Well, Spain happened. Yes, Spain! The team of Esperanca Cladera, Jael Bestue, Paula Sevilla, and Maria Isabel Perez lit up the track with a blazing 42.18 seconds, setting a national record. They made smooth baton passes and ran with pure confidence. Jamaica, in contrast, clocked in at 42.51 seconds, securing World Qualification (WQ) and a season’s best (SB), but it wasn’t enough to snatch the win.

Germany’s squad—Sophia Junk, Nele Jaworski, Jessica-Bianca Wessolly, and Rebekka Haase—finished third with 42.98 seconds, also marking their best time of the season. So, what’s the deal with Jamaica? They’ve got the talent, the stars, and all the experience, but something just isn’t clicking yet. Whether it’s a few hiccups in the baton exchanges, early-season rust, or simply underestimating the competition, they’re not quite firing on all cylinders.

But hey, the finals are still on the horizon, and both Jamaica and Spain have qualified for them. With qualification spots up for grabs for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the top 14 teams in each event—men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, plus the 4x400m relay—will secure their spot for September. The final two spots in each event will be determined by the World Athletics top list, a points-based system ranking athletes globally.

So, while things may not have gone perfectly in the heats, Jamaica’s still got a shot at redemption. But what happened in the mixed 4x100m?

Jamaica battles through tough competition at World Relays Mixed 4x100m heats

On May 9, at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China, the mixed 4x100m heats had fans on the edge of their seats, and Canada made a statement in Heat 3. With an electrifying performance, Gabrielle Cole, Jacqueline Madogo, Duan Asemota, and Eliezer Adjibi clocked a blistering 40.90, setting the fastest time of the day across all heats.

The Canadians weren’t just there to compete—they came to dominate. Their performance left some of the heavy hitters in the sport, including the U.S. and Jamaica, trailing in their wake. Jamaica, the undisputed powerhouse in sprinting, ran a solid 41.04 in Heat 2, securing the second-fastest time overall. Their squad—Natasha Morrison, Krystal Sloley, Javari Thomas, and Rasheed Foster—looked sharp, and at first glance, it seemed like they had done enough to claim the top spot.

However, Canada’s stunning performance in the next heat meant they were left in second place in their heat. Still, with their deep-rooted legacy in relay events, Jamaica’s time was no slouch. Australia also impressed with a 41.15 finish, taking second place in Heat 3, while Belgium and the Netherlands held their ground, finishing third and fourth with times of 41.24 and 41.81, respectively.

Although not the fastest time of the day, Jamaica’s record in the relay events should not go without notice. Their in-depth history of sprinting says enough, and their potential to shine when all aces are needed tells of their threat regardless of the situation. The race wasn’t won on paper, but Jamaica is more than qualified enough to still be in the race, going forward into the final.

The top two teams from each heat qualified automatically, as did the following two fastest teams overall, so both Canada, Australia, Jamaica, and Great Britain, who posted a decent 41.05, are all poised to battle it out for the mixed 4x100m relay crown in the final on May 10.