Canada Sets World Record in Mixed Relay at World Games

Canadian track and field just announced itself as a force to reckon with on the world stage. Four relay teams punched their tickets to the 2027 World Championships in a single day, including one that broke a world record in spectacular fashion.

The mixed 4x100 meter team of Eliezer Adjibi, Marie-Éloïse Leclair, Duan Asemota, and Audrey Leduc blazed across the finish line in Gaborone, Botswana on Saturday in a world record time of 40.07 seconds. Their record stood for just minutes before Jamaica edged them with a 39.99 finish, but the message was clear: Canadian sprinters are hitting their stride at exactly the right time.

The men's 4x100 meter squad brought home equally impressive results. Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Jerome Blake won their qualifying heat with a world-leading time of 37.56 seconds, missing their own Olympic gold medal time from Paris 2024 by just six-hundredths of a second.

Canada's women's teams completed the sweep with strong performances in both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter events. The women's 4x100 team finished just 0.01 seconds shy of the national record with a time of 42.39, while the women's 4x400 squad won their heat outright in 3:23.52.

Why This Inspires

This isn't just about fast times and world records. These athletes represent a golden generation of Canadian track talent that's proving continuity and team chemistry can rival individual brilliance.

Audrey Leduc captured the team's mindset perfectly after their record-setting run. "I believe we can do better than that," she said with quiet confidence, adding that the team knew they were capable of something special.

The results mean Canadian relay teams will compete not just at next year's World Championships but also at September's inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Only the top six teams in each mixed relay final earn that honor, and Canada claimed their spot with room to spare.

These athletes are building something bigger than individual glory. They're creating a culture of excellence that's inspiring the next generation of Canadian sprinters to dream bigger and run faster.

Sunday's finals will give them another chance to show the world what Canadian speed looks like when it all comes together.