European teams secured 26 of the 48 places for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing across the six relay events on the first day of the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana on Saturday (2).
And in the context of the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, the first ever European record was set in the mixed 4x100m, an event which will make its major championships debut in Birmingham this summer.
Inaugural European record established in mixed 4x100m
A German team anchored by Sina Kammerschmitt finished second in the first heat of the mixed 4x100m in 40.15, eclipsing the European record target time of 40.20 which was also equalled by the Netherlands in third.
The Germans were outpaced by reigning champions Canada who won the first heat in a short-lived world record of 40.07. This mark was beaten in the third heat by Jamaica who became the first team in history to break the 40 second-barrier with 39.99.
"It feels incredibly cool. We had a team on the track today that has worked hard and with great focus over the past few weeks. We definitely wanted to secure this World Championship ticket. The fact that it's a European and national record is the icing on the cake," said Sophia Junk who ran the second leg of Germany's record-breaking team.
A Spanish team anchored by national 200m record-holder Jael Bestue also secured one of the automatic qualifying spots, finishing second in heat two behind the United States - 40.36 to 40.51 - while a blazing anchor leg by 20-year-old Kissiwaa Mensah took the Brits to a runner-up finish in heat three behind Jamaica - 39.99 to 40.72.
This set the tone for the remainder of the first day with Germany, Spain and Great Britain excelling across the programme.
Great Britain qualified fastest for the mixed 4x400m final with an early season world lead of 3:09.69 with Spain breaking the 3:10-barrier for the first time, setting a national record of 3:09.89 to finish second in heat two.
Double duty for Sevilla and Hervas
The Spanish pursuit was aided significantly by Paula Sevilla and Blanca Hervas who returned to the track less than two hours after breaking the national record to guide reigning champions Spain through to the women’s 4x400m final in 3:24.44, an event in which seven of the eight qualifying teams hailed from Europe.
"There was a little bit of pressure because of what we did last year, it was crazy but it also boosted our confidence, that we can do it again. Qualifying was our main goal, because there is so much work we have done before coming here," said Hervas.
The fastest qualifiers for the women’s 4x400m final were Great Britain who were back in form after surprisingly exiting in the heats at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Nicole Yeargin anchored the Brits to victory in heat three in 3:21.28 - the fourth fastest time in history by a British women’s 4x400m quartet - with a Norwegian team anchored by Henriette Jaeger also securing one of the automatic qualifying spots in a national record of 3:22.78.
The Netherlands ran their fastest time since winning silver at the 2020 Olympic Games for a safe passage into the men’s 4x400m final. A team anchored by European U23 champion Jonas Phijffers stopped the clock at 2:58.22 and were one of three European teams to progress alongside Portugal (2:59.09) and European champions Belgium (2:59.83).
National 4x100m record for Germany
After setting a European record in the mixed 4x100m, the German team revised their national record in the men’s 4x100m to qualify for tomorrow’s final.
The German quartet finished second to Olympic champions Canada in the first heat - 37.56 to 37.67 - smashing the previous national record of 37.97 set in the heats of the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich.
"I was right behind the Canadian. When I saw the time, I knew immediately: German record! It feels a bit surreal to have improved the record by three-tenths of a second. And when you look back at the past few years, in which we've developed so much and were already close to the record, it's really awesome. We've qualified for Beijing – and we're in the final!" said Lucas Ansah-Peprah who ran the anchor leg.
The Netherlands and Great Britain were the only other European nations to progress through to the men's 4x100m final, clocking 38.00 and 38.01 respectively.
Last year’s runners-up Spain showed their improved relay credentials by finishing second to Jamaica in the first heat of the women’s 4x100m - 41.96 to 42.26.
The Spaniards were one of five European nations to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. They will be joined by their Iberian neighbours Portugal who made history by qualifying for the women’s 4x100m for the first time in World Athletics Championships history.
A team which was led off by Lorene Bazolo, who turns 43 on Monday, set a national record of 43.11 to finish third in heat two, sealing the eighth qualifying spot by just 0.003 ahead of Switzerland who were given an identical time.
European teams to qualify for Beijing 2027
Mixed 4x100m relay (4)
Germany 40.15
Netherlands 40.20
Spain 40.51
Great Britain & NI 40.72
Mixed 4x400m relay (4)
Great Britain & NI 3:09.69
Spain 3:09.89
Italy 3:10.60
Poland 3:13.00
Women’s 4x100m relay (5)
Spain 42.26
Germany 42.44
Italy 42.94
Poland 43.09
Portugal 43.11
Men’s 4x100m relay (3)
Germany 37.67
Netherlands 38.00
Great Britain & NI 38.01
Women’s 4x400m relay (7)
Great Britain & NI 3:21.28
Norway 3:22.78
Spain 3:24.44
Italy 3:24.46
Netherlands 3:24.74
Czechia 3:25.42
Germany 3:25.76
Men’s 4x400m relay (3)
Netherlands 2:58.22
Portugal 2:59.01
Belgium 2:59.83