De Grasse, Leduc power Canadian 4x100m relay teams to spots at world championships
The Canadian men's and women's 4x100-metre relay teams qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships with performances on Saturday at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.
The men's team of Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Jerome Blake finished second in their heat to qualify for Sunday's final, but more importantly for them, clinch a spot at the world championships in Tokyo.
De Grasse told CBC Sports ahead of Saturday's race that this weekend was all about getting the team to worlds.
"The main objective for us [is to] make sure that we qualify … so that we are at the world championships when it matters," De Grasse said.
WATCH | De Grasse helps Canada claim spot at world championships:
That automatic qualification was in doubt for the reigning Olympic champions until De Grasse lifted his team in the anchor leg.The Markham, Ont., native held off Australia and the Netherlands to cross the line in 38.15 seconds and secure second place behind Japan (37.84).
It was a similar story for the Canadian women's 4x100m team. Thanks to a blazing-fast anchor leg, Sade McCreath, Marie-Éloise Leclair, Catherine Léger, and Audrey Leduc secured their spot in Tokyo.
WATCH | Canadian women's 4x100m team clinches spot at worlds:
Canada was in fourth place when Leduc took the baton but she powered past the Italian and Dutch runners to secure a second-place finish (43.11) and clinch automatic qualification for the world championships and Sunday's final.
The Canadian women's 4x400m team also booked a spot a worlds. Jasneet Nijjar, Zoe Sherar, Lauren Gale, and Madeline Price finished fourth in their heat, but their time (3:37.28) was fast enough to qualify for Sunday's final and the world championships.
WATCH | Canadian women's 4x400m relay team qualifies for Tokyo:
The Canadian mixed 4x100m team also advanced to their final by posting the top time across all of Saturday's heats.
The team of Gabrielle Cole, Jacqueline Madogo, Duan Asemota and Eliezer Adjibi finished in 40.90 to book their spot in the final. The mixed 4x100m is not being contested at this year's world championships.
WATCH | Canada's mixed 4x100m relay team qualifies for the World Relays finals:
Not every Canadian team was able to clinch a place at worlds and will need a result in Sunday's repechage heats.
The mixed 4x400m team of Austin Cole, Alyssa Marsh, Nathan George, and Dianna Proctor will also need to compete in a second-chance race after finishing last in their heat (3:22.37).
They'll need finish top two in their heat on Sunday to earn a spot in Tokyo.
Coverage will stream live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem beginning at 6:25 a.m. ET.
Sunday
Mixed 4x100m final – 7:05 a.m. ET
Mixed 4x400m repechage – 7:13 a.m. ET
Women's 4x400m repechage – 7:34 a.m. ET
Men's 4x400m repechage – 7:56 a.m. ET
Women's 4x100m repechage – 8:16 a.m. ET
Men's 4x100m repechage – 8:32 a.m. ET
Mixed 4x400m final – 9:03 a.m. ET
Women's 4x100m final – 9:16 a.m. ET
Men's 4x100m final – 9:26 a.m. ET
Women's 4x400m final – 9:36 a.m. ET
Men's 4x400m final – 9:49 a.m. ET
Athlete
Event(s)
Hometown
Aaron Brown
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Toronto
Andre De Grasse
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Markham, Ont.
Brendon Rodney
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Etobicoke, Ont.
Duan Asemota
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Ajax, Ont.
Eliezer Adjibi
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Ottawa
Jerome Blake
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Kelowna, B.C.
Malachi Murray
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Edmonton
Norris Spike
Men's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Brampton, Ont.
Audrey Leduc
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Laval, Que.
Catherine Leger
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Montreal
Donna Ntambue
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Montreal
Gabrielle Cole
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Ajax, Ont.
Jacqueline Madogo
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Guelph, Ont.
Marie-Éloïse Leclair
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Candiac, Que.
Sade McCreath
Women's 4x100m, Mixed 4x100m
Ajax, Ont.
Austin Cole
Mixed 4x400m
Sherwood Park, Alta.
Christopher Morales Williams
Mixed 4x400m
Maple, Ont.
Nathan George
Mixed 4x400m
Vancouver
Alyssa Marsh
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Whitby, Ont.
Dianna Proctor
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Edmonton
Jasneet Nijjar
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Surrey, B.C.
Kyra Constantine
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Brampton, Ont.
Lauren Gale
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Ottawa
Madeline Price
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Toronto
Micha Powell
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Montreal
Zoe Sherar
Women's 4x400m, Mixed 4x400m
Toronto
Ramone English*
Men's 4x100m
Edmonton
*Reserve
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