Jamaica is aiming to qualify for five relays at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, when they participate in this weekend’s staging of the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.

The relay championships, to be held Saturday and Sunday, will give 14 of the 16 relay teams the chance to book places to the World Athletics Championships in September as well as to earn cash prizes.

In addition to the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m, the mixed 4x100m will be contested for the first time.

Jamaica will have a team in the mixed 4x100m event, according to Ian Forbes, the first vice-president of the country’s athletics governing body.

“Participation in the World Relays is a clear indication of our intention to qualify for the relay events for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year,” the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) vice-president said on Wednesday.

Jamaica named a strong team for the World Relays, including multiple Olympic Games and World Championship medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson as well as 2024 Olympic Games men’s 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson.

“The opportunity is not just for the JAAA but also for the athletes, and this reality seems to be now better understood by more of the athletes and coaches,” Forbes told the Jamaica Observer when asked about the participation of the country’s top athletes.

“The presence of our top athletes means that our relay pools are stronger and therefore increases the chance of the mission being accomplished,” he noted.

The championships, previously staged in The Bahamas, Japan and Poland, is being held in China for the first time. A number of top sprinters from around the globe are expected to represent their countries.

On Saturday’s first day, the top two teams in each of the four heats in the 4x100m, 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m relays, will book tickets to the World Athletics Championships as well as a places in Sunday’s final.

The teams that fail to finish in the top two on the first day will get a second chance on Sunday when the top two in each of the three heats in the second round will also book their places.

According to World Athletics: “The remaining two places in each event will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period (25 February 2024 to 24 August 2025).”

— Paul A Reid

WORLD RELAYS SCHEDULE

Saturday

6:01am — Mixed 4x100m relay heats

6:22am — Mixed 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 1

7:03am — Women’s 4x100m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 1

7:25am — Men’s 4x100m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 1

7:53am — Women’s 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 1

8:23am — Men’s 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 1

Sunday

6:05am — Mixed 4x100m relay – Final

6:13am — Mixed 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 2

6:34am — Women’s 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 2

6:56am — Men’s 4x400m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 2

7:16am — Women’s 4x100m relay – World Champs Qualifying Rnd 2

7:32am — Men’s 4x100m relay -World Champs Qualifying Rnd 2

8:03am — Mixed 4x400m relay – Final

8:16am — Women’s 4x100m relay – Final

8:26am — Men’s 4x100m relay – finalists

8:36am — Women’s 4x400m relay – Final