The Novuna GB & NI Team made a statement of intent on day one of the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone, clocking world leading times in both the mixed 4x400m relay and the women’s 4x400m relay heats.

As a result of their finishes, both teams qualified directly to the final, which will take place on 3 May, and booked their spot at the 2027 World Championships, with a total of four of the Novuna GB & NI teams qualifying spots in Beijing on the opening day.

The mixed 4x400m relay team and the men’s 4x100m squad also claimed top two finishes in their heats, helping secure starting spots in the World Relays Final tomorrow.

The mixed 4x100m relay heats opened proceedings in Botswana, with Jona Efoloko (Sale Harriers Manchester, Clarence Callender) carrying the baton out of the blocks for Britain.

The experienced relay runner soon passed the baton to Alyson Bell (Glasgow Jaguars, Anne Scott), who stormed down the back straight towards Jeriel Quainoo (Blackheath and Bromley, Linford Christie).

As the baton reached Kissiwaa Mensah (Chelmsford, Prince Duwai) on the final leg, the 2025 World Relays medallist accelerated to overtake the Australian and Kenyan teams, crossing the line in second place in 40.72 seconds, helping the team reach the final and secure qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

“First and foremost, what an amazing crowd and an amazing atmosphere to come out to,” said Quainoo. “I am glad that we were able to come out here and display what we have been able to do in training and, most importantly, qualify for the World Championships next year.”

The mixed 4x400m relay followed and after watching the American team run a world-leading time of 3:09.82 in heat one, the British contingent responded by storming to victory in heat three with a time of 3:09.69.

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Dai Greene), Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet, Jack Green) and senior international debutant Jake Minshull (Coventry, James Wright) all ran confidently in their respective legs, helping put Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James) in position to take the win on the final leg.

After a competitive 300m, Mary John found another gear down the home straight and ran past the Kenyan team to win the race in the second-fastest time ever run at a World Relays.

“I have a great finish and the fight was great,” said Mary John. “I said before I saw diamonds on the finish line and I wanted those to be mine.”

The women’s 4x100m relay team, made up of Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Harrow), Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Marco Airale), Success Eduan (Sale Harriers Manchester, Anita Richardson) and Aleeya Sibbons (Newham & Essex Beagles, Colin Bovell), were next up and finished second in their heat in a time of 42.75.

However, the team were retrospectively disqualified for a delayed baton handover on the home turn. The team will race again in the repechage round at the start of day two (3 May), another chance to qualify the team for the 2027 World Athletics Championships.

A highly-experienced team was selected to race in the men’s 4x100m and that seniority paid off as the team clinched second spot in their heat with a time of 38.01.

Veteran runners Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James), Zharnel Hughes (Shaftesbury Barnet, Glen Mills) and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Newham and Essex Beagles, Michael Afilaka) kept the team within reach of race leaders South Africa through the opening three legs of the race.

When the baton reached Romell Glave at the final changeover, the European medallist clicked into gear and accelerated past the Chinese team to take second spot and secure Britain another place at the 2027 World Championships.

Glave said: “I felt very good. I was just aiming to storm it straightaway and just try to make my team qualify for the next round, and to Beijing. We have done that mission, and now it is time to just have fun.”

Next up was the women’s 4x400m relay and the Novuna GB & NI Team made sure it was a race to remember, finishing with a world-leading time of 3:21.28 – the fourth fastest time ever clocked by a British women’s 4x400m relay team.

Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Harringey) opened the first leg, passing the baton over to 400m hurdle specialist Emily Newnham (Shaftesbury Barnet, Nick Dakin).

The European U23 champion extended the team’s advantage with daylight building between her and the chasing pack.

On her senior international debut, Charlotte Henrich (Invicta East Kent, Nigel Stickings) collected the baton from Newnham and continued to cruise, putting Nicole Yeargin (Pitreavie, Gregory Sholars) in a strong position on the final leg.

The Olympic relay medallist maintained momentum and crossed the finish line in a world-leading time.

“We had such a good prep camp. We’ve gelled so well together, I couldn’t have asked for a better squad,” Nielsen said. “We came into this one for all and all for one. [On the opening leg] I just tried to make it as easy for Emily as possible.”

In the final race of the day, the men’s 4x400m relay team took to the track amongst a strong field.

The team, made up of Lewis Davey (Newham & Essex Beagles, Trevor Painter), Captain Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne, John Henson), Seamus Derbyshire (City of Stoke, Alex O’Gorman) and Toby Harries (Brighton Phoenix, David Sadkin) crossed the line in seventh place with a time of  3:01.22.

The team will race in the repechage round tomorrow ahead of the World Relay Finals.

Watch live on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

Sunday 3rd May (1250-1555 BST)  BBC iPlayer:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l00586zm