Qualification system for World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 revealed

The qualification system for the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 has been released, with six months to go to the event in China.

Guangzhou will welcome the world’s best sprinters on 10-11 May 2025 as countries compete for relay places at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

It will be the seventh edition of the World Athletics Relays and the first time the event is held in China, after previous editions in the Bahamas, Japan and Poland.

The programme for the World Athletics Relays comprises five relay disciplines – men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, plus the mixed 4x400m – and 32 teams will be entered in each of those.

The top 16 teams in each discipline at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualify for entry to the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25. The host country may also enter one team in each discipline, regardless of any entry conditions.

The remaining teams (up to 32 in total per event) will be determined through the top lists in the qualification period (1 January 2024 to 13 April 2025). Starting 18 November 2024, World Athletics will maintain a weekly list of relay teams qualified according to the above.

The top 14 teams in each of the five disciplines at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 will automatically qualify for places at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

Entry Rules

Age Categories

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Any athlete aged at least 16 on 31 December 2025 (born in 2009 or earlier) may compete. Athletes younger than 16 on 31 December 2025 (born in 2010 or later) may not compete.

Events

The programme shall comprise five relay events: Men 4x100 metres, 4x400 metres Women,4x100 metres, 4x400 metres, Mixed (Universal) 4x400 metres

Entries by Event

A maximum of one team from any one Member can compete in each relay event and a maximum of eight athletes may be entered for each Relay Team.

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Any four athletes among those entered for the competition, may then be used in the composition of the team.

Entry Conditions

32 teams will be entered in each event. Top 16 teams in the Olympic Games Paris 24 are qualified for entry to Guangzhou 25 World Relays.

The Host Country may enter one team in each event regardless of any Entry Conditions.

The remaining Teams (up to 32 in total per event) will be determined through the Top Lists in the qualification period from 1 January 2024 to Sunday 13 April 2025. Starting 18 November 2024, World Athletics will maintain a weekly list of Relay Teams qualified according to the above, the final version of which will be published on Tuesday 15 April 2025.

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In order to allow for the possible re-allocation of unused places, Member Federations are invited to notify World Athletics if they will not take up a qualified spot by 17 April (midnight Monaco time) by email to [email protected].

World Athletics will then notify the next best team(s) as required. Member Federations will then be able to submit their Final Entries by Monday 21 April 2025.

Conditions for Validity of Performances

• All performances must be achieved during the period 1 January 2024 to Sunday 13 April 2025. Performances must be achieved in a competition conducted according to World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules, and authorised by World Athletics, its Area Associations.

or its National Member Federations, and published on the World Athletics Global Calendar: https://www.worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results.

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• At least two different international teams, must compete in the event, where “international teams” means at least two different national teams, or one team composed of athletes of different countries (e.g. a university or club team).

• Short Track (indoor) performances will be accepted.

• Hand-timed performances for the 4x100m will not be accepted.

• Performances achieved on oversized short tracks (indoor) will be accepted.

By World Athletics