GUANGZHOU: Success Eduan lived up to her name by anchoring Britain to a thrilling victory in the 4x100m at the world relays in Guangzhou on Sunday as Akani Simbine led South Africa to victory in the men’s event.

Eduan produced a thrilling final leg to outpace Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Twanisha Terry of the United States for gold along with team-mates Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Amy Hunt and Bianca Williams.

“I did not think too much of (the) others, I just knew that if I gave all myself in, it would come out all right,” said Eduan.

“I have a mentality of a winner, I don’t care if Shericka or Shelly-Ann (Fraser-Pryce), resp­ect to them, are running. I am going to give my all and I’m going to pass them and I’m going to win. And we did that!”

Spain snatched a shock silver in 42.28sec, with the Jamaican quartet also featuring multi-medalled Fraser-Pryce taking bronze (42.33), just five-hundredths ahead of the US team.South Africa had in-form Sim­bine, winner of the two open­ing Diamond League 100m races this season, to thank for an electric anchor leg as he powered past Brandon Hicklin for gold in the men’s 4x100m relay.

The team also featuring Bay­anda Walaza, Sinesipho Dam­bile and Bradley Nkoana clocked a world leading time of 37.61sec.

The US took silver in 37.66sec, with Canada, featuring the same quartet who won gold in last year’s Paris Olym­pics, claiming bronze.

There was another upset in the women’s 4x400m relay, with Spain pushing the US team, the defending Olympic champions, into second.

Spanish anchor leg Blanca Hervas was overtaken on the final lap but she held her nerve to slowly reel back in a flagging Bailey Lear.

Paula Sevilla ran the first leg for Spain, just minutes after taking part in the 4x100m relay, with Eva Santidrian and Dan­iela Fra completing the winning line-up as they timed 3:24.13.

The US took silver in 3:24.72 with South Africa rounding out the podium in 3:24.84.

The South Africans brought two days of competition — which also served as qualifiers for the world athletics championships in Tokyo in September — to an end with gold in the men’s 4x400m relay.

The quartet of Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koek­emoer and Zakithi Nene raced home in 2:57.50. Alexander Doom produced his trademark late push to guarantee silver for Belgium in 2:58.19, with Botsw­ana taking bronze (2:58.27).

The US quartet of Chris Rob­i­nson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger and Lynna Irby-Jackson earlier claimed gold in the mixed 4x400m relay in a championship record of 3:09.54.

And the Canadian quartet of Sade McCreath, Marie-Eloise Leclair, Duan Asemota and Eli­ezer Adjibi topped the podium ahead of Jamaica and Britain in the mixed 4x100m relay, winning the first ever holding of the event in 40.30sec.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2025