Oregon22: Mixed 4x400 Preview

Mixed 4x400m (Day 1: 7.45pm Irish time)

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Irish Relay Team

Ireland will have a strong representation on day 1 of the World Athletics Championships, with the mixed 4x400m team looking to replicate the magic of Tokyo which saw the Irish mixed 4x400m team become the first ever Irish relay team to make an Olympic final. The relay team for Friday will include 1 Christopher O’Donnell, 2 Sophie Becker, 3 Jack Raftery, and 4 Rhasidat Adeleke. The final of the mixed 4 x 400m will take place in the early hours of Saturday morning (3.50am Irish time).

Startlist HERE

World Athletics Preview

On paper, the mixed 4x400m would play into the hands of the nations with the greatest 400m depth.

In reality, though, it also gives nations with just a couple of leading one-lapping men and women to be competitive on the global stage. And no nation illustrates this better than the Dominican Republic.

Just three women in the country have bettered 53 seconds this year, while four of their men have gone inside 46 seconds. But that pool includes Olympic silver medallist Marileidy Paulino, who has a 49.20 PB and holds the world lead at 49.49; 50.38 performer Fiordaliza Cofil; IberoAmerican champion Lidio Feliz, who has set a PB of 44.64 this year; and versatile sprinter Alexander Ogando, who has a best of 44.68.

It’s easy to see why the Dominican Republic claimed Olympic silver last year, finishing 0.01 ahead of the USA. And, if anything, all members of their squad are stronger and faster this year, so expect them to feature in the medal hunt once more.

But the USA won’t want to surrender their title, especially not on home soil. They won the inaugural world title in the mixed 4x400m in Doha, clocking a world record of 3:09.34 and winning by more than two seconds. They boast six of the nine fastest men’s 400m runners in the world this year – including world leader Michael Norman – while sprint superstar Allyson Felix is also included in their mixed 4x400m relay pool.
 

It will likely take a world record to win in Oregon, especially as Poland – who won the Olympic title last year in a European record of 3:09.87, just half a second shy of the world record – will be out in force. With a potential gold medal on the line, expect them to put forward their strongest possible team for the final.

Jamaica took silver in Doha three years ago, but finished back in seventh in Tokyo, albeit without several of their one-lap stars. Should they go with their best 400m sprinters, the Caribbean nation has the talent and ability to challenge for a medal.

The Netherlands has turned their fortunes around in all 4x400m events in recent years, and they finished fourth in the mixed relay in Tokyo, just 0.14 shy of a medal. The likes of Femke Bol, Liemarvin Bonevacia, Lieke Klaver and Ramsey Angela could once again team up to produce a pretty formidable foursome.

Great Britain & Northern Ireland didn’t qualify a team for the men’s 4x400m, so their leading men will be able to channel all of their energy into the mixed relay, bolstered by their top 400m women.

The Belgian team, often powered by at least 50% Borlees, should also feature prominently. They placed fifth in Tokyo in the mixed event, while their men’s team went on to win the world indoor title earlier this year and their women’s squad also continues to improve.

Italy and Brazil, who occupied the top two places in this event at the World Relays last year, should also be a factor.

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics