World Athletics Relays
International biennial track and field sporting event
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The World Athletics Relays, known as the IAAF World Relays until 2019, is an international biennial track and field sporting event held by World Athletics where teams from around the world compete in relay races, some of which are not part of the standard Olympic programme. The first three editions were set to take place in Nassau, Bahamas at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Originally intended as an annual event, it was later decided to happen every odd year,[1] in the same year as the World Athletics Championships for which it serves as a qualification stage.
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The competition format for the first edition included the 4 × 100 metres relay, the 4 × 200 metres relay, the 4 × 400 metres relay, the 4 × 800 metres relay and the 4 × 1500 metres relay.[2] The first edition had a $1.4 million prize fund.
From the second edition, the 4 × 1500 metres relay was replaced by the distance medley relay.[3] However, this was short-lived and was itself replaced by a mixed-gender 4 × 400 metres relay for the third edition.[4] In 2019, the 2 × 2 × 400 m relay and the shuttle hurdles relay were added to the mixed-gender category.[5] Starting from the 2024 edition, all the non-Olympic events were removed from the programme and only the mens and women's 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 metres remained, alongside the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay. In the 2025 edition, a mixed 4 × 100 metres was added to the programme, bringing the total to 6 events.[6]
The latest World Athletics Relays were held in Guangzhou, China at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium on 10 and 11 May 2025.
Championships
| Edition | Year | City | Country | Date | Venue | No. of Events |
No. of Countries |
No. of Athletes |
Top of the medal table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 | Nassau |  Bahamas |
24–25 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 10 | 41 | 470 |  United States |
| 2 | 2015 | Nassau | Bahamas |
2–3 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 10 | 42 | 584 | United States |
| 3 | 2017 | Nassau | Bahamas |
22–23 April | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 9 | 35 | 419 | United States |
| 4 | 2019 | Yokohama |  Japan |
11–12 May | Yokohama International Stadium | 9 | 43 | 529 | United States |
| 5 | 2021 | Chorzów |  Poland |
1–2 May | Silesian Stadium | 9 | 37 | 689 |  Italy |
| 6 | 2024 | Nassau | Bahamas |
4–5 May | Thomas Robinson Stadium | 5 | 52 | 893 | United States |
| 7 | 2025 | Guangzhou |  China |
10–11 May | Tianhe Stadium | 6 | 43 | 734 |  South Africa |
| 8 | 2026 | Gaborone |  Botswana |
2–3 May | Botswana National Stadium | ||||
| 9 | 2028 | Nassau | Bahamas |
22–23 April | Thomas Robinson Stadium |
Events
| Event | Year | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discipline | Gender | 2014 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| 4 × 100 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Shuttle hurdles relay | Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 4 × 200 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| 4 × 400 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 2 × 2 × 400 metres relay | Mixed | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| 4 × 800 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Distance medley relay | Men | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| 4 × 1500 metres relay | Men | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Women | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Championships records
Men
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 100 m relay | 37.38 | Mike Rodgers Justin Gatlin Tyson Gay Ryan Bailey |
 United States |
2 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [7] |
| 4 × 200 m relay | 1:18.63 | Nickel Ashmeade Warren Weir Jermaine Brown Yohan Blake |
 Jamaica |
24 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [8] |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 2:57.25 | David Verburg Tony McQuay Christian Taylor LaShawn Merritt |
United States |
25 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [9] |
| 4 × 800 m relay | 7:04.84 | Duane Solomon Erik Sowinski Casimir Loxsom Robby Andrews |
United States |
3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [10] |
| Distance medley relay | 9:15.50 | Kyle Merber 2:53.56 (1200 m) Brycen Spratling 45.95 (400 m) Brandon Johnson 1:44.75 (800 m) Ben Blankenship 3:51.24 (1600 m) |
United States |
3 May 2015 | 2015 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [11] |
| 4 × 1500 m relay | 14:22.22 | Collins Cheboi Silas Kiplagat James Kiplagat Magut Asbel Kiprop |
 Kenya |
25 May 2014 | 2014 IAAF World Relays | Nassau, Bahamas | [12] |
Women
Mixed
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:09.54 | Chris Robinson Courtney Okolo Johnnie Blockburger Lynna Irby-Jackson |
United States |
11 May 2025 | 2025 Relays | Guangzhou, China | [19] |
| 2 × 2 × 400 m relay | 3:36.92 | Ce'Aira Brown Donavan Brazier |
United States |
11 May 2019 | 2019 Relays | Yokohama, Japan | [20] |
| Shuttle hurdle relay | 54.96 | Christina Clemons Freddie Crittenden Sharika Nelvis Devon Allen |
United States |
11 May 2019 | 2019 Relays | Yokohama, Japan | [21] |
Medal table
- As of the 2025 edition[22]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 27 | 9 | 2 | 38 |
| 2 | Jamaica | 5 | 9 | 7 | 21 |
| 3 | Poland | 3 | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | Kenya | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 5 |  Germany | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 6 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 |  Canada | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 |  France | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Bahamas | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 |  Great Britain | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
| 12 | Botswana | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 14 |  Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 15 |  Brazil | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
 Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 17 |  Nigeria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 18 |  Cuba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Japan | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 20 |  Australia | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 21 |  Belgium | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 22 | China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 23 |  Ireland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 |  Barbados | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Belarus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 27 |  Denmark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Dominican Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Ecuador | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Ethiopia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Russia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (33 entries) | 58 | 58 | 57 | 173 | |
Multiple wins
Multiple wins athletes are:[23]
- Three wins
| Athlete | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel Ashmeade | Jamaica | Men's 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014/2015 |
| Tony McQuay | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| LaShawn Merritt | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| David Verburg | United States | Men's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Natasha Hastings | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Chanelle Price | United States | Women's 4 × 800 m 2014/2015/2017 |
| Sanya Richards-Ross | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2014/2015, Distance Medley Relay 2015 |
- Two wins
| Athlete | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Yohan Blake | Jamaica | Men's 4 × 100 m 2014, 4 × 200 m 2014 |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | Men's 4 × 100 m 2015/2017 |
| Casimir Loxsom | United States | Men's 4 × 800 m 2015/2017 |
| Erik Sowinski | United States | Men's 4 × 800 m 2015/2017 |
| Warren Weir | Jamaica | Men's 4 × 200 m 2014/2015 |
| Phyllis Francis | United States | Women's 4 × 400 m 2015/2017 |
| Ajeé Wilson | United States | Women's 4 × 800 m 2014, Distance Medley Relay 2015 |
| Quanera Hayes | United States |
Women's 4 × 400 m 2017/2024 |
| Gabrielle Thomas | United States |
Women's 4 × 100 m 2024, Women's 4 × 400 m 2024 |
| Lynna Irby | United States |
Mixed 4 × 400 m 2024/2025 |