Australia’s mixed 4x400m relay team earned a historic silver medal at the World Athletics Relays in China, capping off a successful two-day event for the nation. The team’s performance also secured spots for four Australian relay teams in the Tokyo World Championships.
Historic Silver for Australia’s Mixed 4x400m Relay Team
Australia’s mixed 4x400m relay team, featuring Luke van Ratingen, Ellie Beer, Terrell Thorne, and Carla Bull, claimed silver at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou on Sunday. The team finished in 3:12.20, breaking both the national and Oceanian record, although they couldn’t match the United States’ dominant performance.
Australia’s Strong Performance Leads to Tokyo Qualification
Along with the mixed relay silver, the Australian teams also secured places for the Tokyo World Championships. The men’s 4x100m, mixed, women’s, and men’s 4x400m teams all qualified for the global event in September. The mixed relay team’s silver medal was the highlight, as it marked Australia’s best result in the event’s history.
Americans Dominate, But Australia Sets Records
The United States team, composed of Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger, and Lynna Irby-Jackson, shattered the championship record with a time of 3:09.54, winning gold. However, the Australians’ time of 3:12.20 placed them second, tying their best-ever finish in the event, matching their silver medal from 2019 in Yokohama.
Australia’s Mixed Relay Teams Shine
Ellie Beer, the 22-year-old Olympian, expressed her joy after the race, saying, “We were so ecstatic to make the final and coming away with a silver medal, we are just so happy.” Bull also enjoyed a strong night, narrowly missing out on another medal in the mixed 4x100m relay, where the team finished fourth behind Canada.
Australia’s Men’s Relays Book Tokyo Spots
Australia’s men’s 4x100m relay team, led by world indoor 60m silver medalist Lachlan Kennedy, also qualified for Tokyo with a strong performance in the qualifying rounds. The team clocked 38.31 seconds in the second qualifying round. Joshua Azzopardi, one of the team members, expressed confidence, saying, “We feel like we can really push for those medals and that’s the goal.”
Other Teams in the Mix for Tokyo
The men’s 4x400m relay team, including Sherman, Reece Holder, Aidan Murphy, and Tom Reynolds, earned their spot with a time of 2:59.73. Their performance was just 0.03 seconds shy of Australia’s long-standing 41-year-old record. The success of these relay teams demonstrates Australia’s growing strength in track and field.
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