World Athletics U20 Championships 2024: Jamaica secures gold in women's 4x100m relay event

Alana Reid led the Jamaican team to victory in women’s 4x100m at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024.

A series of thrilling relay races took place on the final day of competition at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2024 on Saturday with Jamaica taking the women’s 4x100m title and USA clinching the women’s 4x400m crown.

It was Alana Reid who anchored Jamaica to that 4x100m victory, the 19-year-old adding another gold medal to the 100m title she claimed on day two in Lima. On Saturday she teamed up with individual 200m bronze medallist Shanoya Mikalia Douglas, Alliah Baker and Briana Campbell to clock 43.39.

USA got a good start, as did Australia and Jamaica, but the Australian team, featuring individual 200m medallist Torrie Lewis, struggled with their second changeover and USA with their third. Australia’s Jessica Milat had a marginal lead as she took off for the final leg but she was chased by Reid, who passed her in the closing stages to clinch the win. 

Australia and USA were both disqualified so silver went to Switzerland, anchored by Alicia Masini, with the team’s delight at gaining a medal in a national U20 record of 44.06 clear to see.

Also Read: World Athletics U20 Championships 2024: South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza wins 200m gold, completes sprint double

Bronze was claimed by Canada in 44.60, that squad featuring individual 400m silver medallist Dianna Proctor on the second leg.

“We are all from different training groups and to see that we could come together as one and make it happen for ourselves and our country, it is really something that we are proud of,” said Reid. “It was just for us to come out here and give our best.”

USA storms to gold in women’s 4x400m at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024

A strong anchor leg from Zaya Akins helped USA to the women’s 4x400m title, Akins claiming her second medal in Lima after her individual 400m bronze two days earlier.

USA get the gold 🔥400m bronze medallist Zaya Akins anchors 🇺🇸's 4x400m women to the gold in Lima 🙌🥇 🇺🇸 🥈 🇦🇺 🥉 🇬🇧 #WorldAthleticsU20 pic.twitter.com/dSTFg8uv7t

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 31, 2024

It helped USA to top of the medal table at the end of the five days of competition in the Peruvian capital, with eight gold, four silver and four bronze.

Italy had a strong start and led at the first changeover but Australia closed the gap on the second leg and moved into the lead at the break. First leg runner Michaela Mouton had handed over to Olivia Harris for USA before Josie Donelson took over for the third leg. She passed the baton on to Akins in second place, some way back on leaders Australia after Jemma Pollard handed over to Sophia Gregorevic for the anchor.

Gregorevic looked on track for another relay gold after her mixed 4x400m title on the opening day, but Akins caught and passed her on the final bend. Akins surged away for the win, taking the title in 3:30.74, while Australia held on for silver in 3:31.47 and Great Britain got bronze in 3:32.80.

It was a second world U20 4x400m medal for Akins, who ran in the heats in Cali two years ago before her teammates went on to get gold. Gregorevic and Bella Pasquali both leave Lima with two relay medals as Pasquali also ran in the mixed 4x400m.

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