Novuna GB & NI Win Medal-Driving 3:09.69 in Gaborone
Novuna GB & NI turned day one of the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone into a medal start, winning the mixed 4x400m relay heat in 3:09.69 and posting world-leading marks in both that event and the women’s 4x400m relay heats. Both squads moved straight into the final and booked places at the 2027 World Championships in Beijing.
Gaborone mixed relay surge
The mixed 4x400m quartet won heat three in 3:09.69, a time described as the second-fastest ever run at a World Relays. Yemi Mary John took the final leg and pulled past the Kenyan team to seal the win.
That left Novuna GB & NI with the cleanest possible return from the opening day: a final place on 3 May and a qualification spot for Beijing already secured. The American team’s 3:09.82 in heat one was the nearest challenger in the early rounds.
Yemi Mary John closes it out
John’s finish held up the mixed team’s strongest performance of the session, and her own post-race words matched the way the relay ended. “I have a great finish and the fight was great,” she said. “I said before I saw diamonds on the finish line and I wanted those to be mine.”
Earlier, Jeriel Quainoo had set the tone in the mixed 4x100m relay, where Novuna GB & NI finished second in 40.72 seconds and also reached the final and the 2027 World Championships. After that race, Quainoo said, “First and foremost, what an amazing crowd and an amazing atmosphere to come out to,” and added, “I am glad that we were able to come out here and display what we have been able to do in training and, most importantly, qualify for the World Championships next year.”
Women’s 4x100m setback
Not every British result stuck. The women’s 4x100m relay team finished second in 42.75, but a retrospective disqualification for a delayed baton handover on the home turn wiped out that placing.
That team will race again in the repechage round at the start of day two on 3 May, while the men’s 4x100m relay squad also finished second in its heat in 38.01. For Novuna GB & NI, the day still ended with two relay finals and two World Championships places already banked, even before the first medal race of the meeting is run.
