European teams filled 38 of the 70 qualifying places for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo across the five events at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou on 10-11 May.
Great Britain, France and Belgium were the only three European nations in Guangzhou to successfully qualify for all five relay events - men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m - at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
But perhaps the most notable team of the weekend was Spain who set national records in the women’s 4x100m (42.18), mixed 4x400m (3:12.55) and women’s 4x400m (3:24.13), coming away with a surprise gold in the latter event as well as silver in the women’s 4x100m behind Great Britain.
Four-time European U20 medallist Success Eduan, 20, ran a blazing anchor for the Brits to win the 4x100m title while the Brits also won bronze in the inaugural mixed 4x100m final which will be part of the programme at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships.
The Belgian Tornadoes also came away with silver in the men’s 4x400m with reigning European champion Alexander Doom anchoring Belgium to a 2:58.19, their third fastest time as a nation.
A further two places in each of the five disciplines will be awarded based on top lists during the qualification period which begins on 25 February 2024 and closes on 24 August 2025.