Jamaica's mixed 4x100m relay team set a new world record of 39.99 seconds [1] during a qualifying heat on Saturday, May 2, 2026 [2].
The achievement marks the first time a quartet has broken the 40-second barrier in the mixed 4x100m event. This performance secures the team's place in the final and guarantees their qualification for the World Athletics Championships.
The record-breaking squad consisted of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson, and Tia Clayton [1]. The event took place at the Debswana World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana [1].
"Breaking the 40-second barrier is a massive achievement for our team," Blake said.
The team's time of 39.99 seconds [1] established a new global benchmark for the discipline. By dipping under the 40-second mark, the Jamaican athletes have shifted the expected performance standards for mixed sprinting events.
World Athletics Chief Executive Sebastian Coe praised the result. "This performance showcases the depth of Jamaican sprinting talent on the world stage," Coe said.
Coach Stephen Francis emphasized the pride the team felt in the result. "We are proud to represent Jamaica and set a new world record," Francis said.
The victory in the heat serves as a critical momentum builder for the athletes as they move toward the championship rounds. The mixed relay format requires precise coordination between male and female sprinters to maintain maximum velocity through the exchanges—a technical challenge the Jamaican quartet mastered on Saturday.
“"Breaking the 40-second barrier is a massive achievement for our team."”
The sub-40-second mark was long considered a psychological and physical threshold in mixed relay sprinting. By breaking this barrier, Jamaica has not only set a new numerical standard but has also demonstrated a superior level of technical efficiency in baton exchanges between genders, placing significant pressure on other sprinting nations to adapt their strategies before the World Athletics Championships.
