USA is targeting their 10th world 4x100m title
South Africa hopes to pick up from the World Relays victory in May
Olympic champions Canada are always a threat
The 4x100m at major championships is a contest of which team has the smoothest passes as much as it is a race of pure speed.
The USA, winner of nine world titles in this event, has traditionally been the most dominant force, but no team has won back-to-back titles since Jamaica’s 2015 triumph.
The defending champions will have world and Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles at their disposal. He anchored the USA to victory in Budapest two years ago and will be keen to do the same in Tokyo. The US could also call upon the likes of Kenny Bednarek, Courtney Lindsey, T’Mars McCallum, Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman, all of whom have bettered 9.90 this year.
South Africa took Olympic silver last year in an African record of 37.57, then came close to that when winning at the World Relays earlier this year in 37.61. Teenage talent Bayanda Walaza has a minor injury concern heading to Tokyo, but there’s still plenty of speed and experience on the team in the form of Akani Simbine, Gift Leotlela and Retshiditswe Mlenga.
Jamaica has won four world titles in the 4x100m, but only when Usain Bolt was on the team. They earned bronze in Budapest two years ago, though, and their squad for Tokyo is certainly not lacking in talent. The four men who competed in the final in Budapest – Ackeem Blake, Oblique Seville, Ryiem Forde and Rohan Watson – will be joined by Olympic silver medallist and world leader Kishane Thompson.
The Italian squad has fond memories of competing in Tokyo as it’s where, in 2021, they triumphed in the 4x100m in 37.50. Three members of that team – 2021 Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs, Filippo Tortu, and Lorenzo Patta – are part of the squad for Tokyo.
All four men that teamed up to earn Canada the Olympic gold in Paris last year will be in Tokyo; whether they’re chosen for the 4x100m is another matter entirely, but they have proven time and again that they’re a well-drilled squad.
Great Britain, the world and Olympic bronze medallist, will be seeking redemption after their DNF at the World Relays. Their squad includes world 100m bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes, world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu, and Eugene Amo-Dadzie who recently sped to a PB of 9.87.
Japan has earned three global medals in the men’s 4x100m in the past decade, and the support of the home crowd could once again carry them on to the podium.
Michelle Katami for World Athletics
AloJapan.com