Through the World Athletics Relays competition in the Bahamas, Great Britain has won four of the five relay slots available for the 2024 Olympics in Paris this summer.
The men’s and women’s 4×100-meter teams as well as the 4×400-meter men’s and women’s teams finished second in their designated categories. The women’s 4×100-meter team won their heat.
In addition to earning spots in the Olympics, the top two teams in each heat advanced to the finals of the said competition.
Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Bianca Williams, and Amy Hunt won the fourth heat in the women’s 4×100-meter relay, setting a new season’s best time of 42.33 seconds. They trailed the United States, who had won the opening heat, in overall speed on day one.
Great Britain – Team to watch
Hunt, one of the athletes, admitted: “That was incredible, it was my first time with these three girls…They’ve been so absolutely amazing in trusting me and mentoring me and making sure I am on it.”
“So, to get that baton and cross the line with the biggest smile on my face that was one of the most fun races I have ever done…We got here, we did our job, we executed so we’re super, super, happy,” she added.
On the other hand, the men’s team consisting of Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Richard Kilty, and Eugene Amo-Dadzie finished second, just behind France, with a season-best time of 38.36 seconds.
More so, in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, Ireland defeated Victoria Ohuruogu, Hannah Kelly, Nicole Yeargin, and Lina Nielsen in three minutes, 24.89 seconds.
The men’s 4×400-meter relay team, comprising Matthew Hudson-Smith, Toby Harries, Lee Thompson, and Lewis Davey, concluded their heat in behind Italy with a time of 3:02.10.
The mixed team consisting of Brodie Young, Ama Pipi, Charles Dobson, and Laviai Nielsen finished third, trailing behind the winners, Belgium and Ireland. If they can rank in the top two in their heat on the second day of the competition, they still have a chance to reserve a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: BBC