The World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 exploded into action on May 10, 2025, at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, where 730 athletes from 43 nations battled for relay supremacy and qualification for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025. Day 1 was a heart-pounding mix of speed, chaos, and raw emotion, with rain-soaked tracks fueling drama across six relay events: men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, and the debut mixed 4x100m.

With the top 14 teams in each event (except the mixed 4x100m) securing Tokyo berths, every exchange was make-or-break. From shocking upsets to electrifying triumphs, the opening day was track at its wildest. What were the moments that defined this unforgettable start?

USA’s Mixed 4x100m Relay Baton Blunder

The United States, a sprinting juggernaut, entered the mixed 4x100m relay—a fresh addition to Guangzhou—with a powerhouse lineup featuring Jada Mowatt and Kendal Williams. With Olympic medalists like Kenny Bednarek and Twanisha Terry, who clinched gold in the men’s and women’s 4x100m (37.47 and 41.78) at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the U.S. was expected to dominate.

But in Heat 1 on May 10, 2025, a botched baton handoff between Mowatt and Williams, exacerbated by the rain-slicked track, left the baton on the ground and the team disqualified after trailing by 25 seconds. This was a far cry from their 2024 World Relays success in the mixed 4x400m (3:11.52). With the mixed 4x100m slated for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, this was a brutal wake-up call. Could the U.S. rebound in their other relays?

Canada’s Commanding Relay Performances

Canada ruled the track on Day 1, delivering a relay clinic that set the standard. In the mixed 4x100m, Gabrielle Cole, Jacqueline Madogo, Duan Asemota, and Eliezer Adjibi stormed to a heat-winning 40.90, with a razor-sharp reaction time of 0.158, securing automatic qualification. Their seamless exchanges capitalized on the U.S.’s earlier fumble, highlighting a squad anchored by Olympic gold medalists.

This included Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, and Brendon Rodney, who had a time of 37.50 seconds in Paris 2024. The men’s 4x100m team posted a seasonal best of 38.09, while the women’s 4x100m squad advanced with ease. World Athletics emphasized Canada’s depth, noting their men’s 4x100m lineup remained unchanged from their Olympic triumph. Could Canada claim their first World Relays crown?

Jamaica’s Shocking 4x400m Exit

Jamaica, a relay dynasty, faced an unexpected setback in the men’s 4x400m relay. With veterans like Rusheen McDonald and Demar Francis, who earned silver at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, the team was tipped to sail through their heat. But the rain-drenched track and fierce competition from teams like Kenya, who posted a world-leading 3:00.87 in 2025, disrupted their rhythm.

Jamaica failed to advance, a rare misstep for a nation that secured bronze in the men’s 4x400m (2:56.72) at the Paris 2024 Olympics. With sprint stars like Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in other events, this exit was a bitter pill. Could Jamaica channel this disappointment into their sprint relays?

USA Bounces Back in Mixed 4x400m

The U.S. shook off their mixed 4x100m disaster with a dominant showing in the mixed 4x400m relay, winning Heat 2 on May 10, 2025, in a blazing 3:11.37. Featuring athletes like Justin Robinson and Lynna Irby-Jackson, who helped win gold in the same event at the 2023 World Championships, the team outpaced Ireland (3:12.56) and Poland (3:12.70) to secure a final spot and a Tokyo 2025 berth.

This performance echoed their world record of 3:07.41 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite missing stars like Gabby Thomas. The win showcased the U.S.’s relay depth and resilience. Could they defend their mixed 4x400m title in the final?

Spain’s Surprise Win Over Jamaica in Women’s 4x100m

In a stunning upset, Spain’s women’s 4x100m team outran Jamaica in their heat on May 10, 2025, clocking 42.18 to Jamaica’s 42.51. Both teams qualified for the World Championships Tokyo 2025, but Spain’s victory over Jamaica’s superstar quartet—Tina Clayton, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tia Clayton, and Shericka Jackson—was seismic.

Jamaica, which ran 41.78 to win gold in Paris 2024, struggled with baton exchanges on the wet track, while Spain executed with precision, building on their national record of 42.58 from the 2022 World Championships. This marked a historic moment for Spain, which placed fifth in that 2022 race. Could Spain ride this momentum to a podium spot in the final?

USA’s Women’s 4x100m Heat Victory

The United States redeemed their mixed relay woes in the women’s 4x100m, winning the final heat on May 10, 2025, in a commanding 42.87, anchored by the electrifying Twanisha Terry. Terry, part of the Paris 2024 Olympic gold-medal team that ran 41.78, powered through the rain to secure the victory, with Canada claiming the second automatic qualifying spot in 43.11.

The U.S. performance reaffirmed their dominance, while Canada’s strong showing, led by their Olympic finalists, kept them competitive. Would the U.S. and Canada duel for gold in the women’s 4x100m final?

Jamaica’s Men’s 4x100m Baton Disaster

Jamaica’s Day 1 woes deepened in the men’s 4x100m relay, where their star-studded squad—Rohan Watson, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake, and Kishane Thompson—suffered a devastating baton drop on the second exchange. This mishap on May 10, 2025, knocked them out of contention, a shocking outcome for a team featuring Blake, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist, and Thompson, who ran 9.82 in 2024.

Jamaica’s men, who earned silver (37.55) in the 4x100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, were undone by the wet track and a rare lapse in coordination. This marked a second relay elimination for Jamaica, compounding their 4x400m exit. Could Jamaica’s sprint stars find redemption in the finals?

USA’s Men’s 4x100m Heat Dominance

The United States capped Day 1 with a statement in the men’s 4x100m, taking the last heat on May 10, 2025, in a blistering 37.86 seconds, as reported by Track Gazette on X. Anchored by Olympic medalist Kenny Bednarek, who helped secure gold (37.47) at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the U.S. squad outran Italy, who settled for second in 38.16.

This time marked the USA’s fastest of the 2025 season, signaling ominous form ahead of Tokyo 2025. Italy’s performance continued their relay resurgence, building on their Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold (37.50), led by Filippo Tortu and Lorenzo Patta. Both teams qualified for the World Championships Tokyo 2025, with the top 14 teams advancing per World Athletics rules.

Despite the rain-soaked track challenging baton exchanges, the U.S. executed with precision—a stark contrast to their earlier mixed 4x100m blunder. Could the U.S. carry this momentum into the final and reclaim the men’s 4x100m crown?

The Road Ahead in Guangzhou

Day 1 of the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 was a thrilling showcase of the unpredictability, with 32 teams per event fighting for glory. The timetable, packed with heats for all six relays, kept the action relentless. The mixed 4x100m’s woman-woman-man-man order introduced new strategic challenges, while the rain tested every team’s focus.

With 18 federations in the mixed 4x100m and powerhouses like Italy, Nigeria, and host China fielding Olympic finalists, the finals on May 11 promised more drama. Which teams would rise to secure their Tokyo 2025 tickets and make relay history?