Canada gets set for World Relays in Nassau

Speed, power and perfect exchanges will be required when four Canadian teams compete in the first IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas on May 24-25.

A brand new competition to the athletics calendar, the relays will feature a total of five events (4 x 100 metres, 4 x 200m, 4 x 400m, 4 x 800m and 4 x 1500m) for each gender.

Day 2 (Sunday) Live Stream from IAAF: 

Day 1 (Saturday) Replay from IAAF:

Relays are always some of the more exciting races at track meets. It stands to reason then that a tightly packed, fast-paced, two-day schedule in Nassau featuring some of the world’s best runners should provide an athletics masterpiece.

At stake is more than the $1.4 prize fund. In the men’s and women’s 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m the event will also serve as qualification for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. It’s no surprise then that Canada’s four teams will be in these events.

Justyn Warner

Three quarters of Canadian men’s 4 x 100m World bronze medal winners from Moscow 2013 reunites for Nassau. Gavin Smellie, Dontae Richards-Kwok and anchor Justyn Warner will make the trip. Missing from the team is Canada’s top-ranked sprinter Aaron Brown due to NCAA (college) commitments.  Canada finished behind Jamaica and the United States after Great Britain was disqualified. Veteran sprinter Jared Connaughton is poised to take Brown’s place with Segun Makinde also in the mix.

Phylicia George

The women’s 4 x 100m team features London 2012 speedsters Phylicia George and Crystal Emmanuel. They share the baton with Khamica Bingham, Shai-Anne Davis and Kimberly Hyacinthe.  Canada placed sixth in Moscow.

Men’s 4 x 400m team consists for Daundre Barnaby, Daniel Harper, Tremaine Harris, Philip Osei and Michael Robertson. The women’s team is made up of Wendy Fawn Dorr, Jenna Martin, Noelle Montcalm, Carline Muir and Sarah Wells.