5 days agoNo USA–Botswana 4x400m showdown at World Relays

The much-hyped 4x400m clash between Botswana and the United States at the upcoming World Athletics Relays has hit an unexpected snag. The Americans have officially pulled out of both the men’s and women’s 4x400m events, delivering a major blow to what promised to be one of track and field’s most electrifying rivalries. Slated for May 2–3 at Botswana’s National Stadium, the global relay extravaganza was set to showcase a thrilling duel between two sprinting powerhouses.

Yet USA Track & Field (USATF) has decided against fielding teams in the 4x400m races, citing a mix of athlete availability issues and budgetary constraints. squad will still compete in four other relays, the mixed 4x100m, mixed 4x400m, men’s 4x100m, and women’s 4x100m, ensuring their presence without their traditionally dominant 4x400m teams. Jay Holder, USATF’s Chief Content and Communications Officer, attributed the withdrawal largely to a lack of top-tier athletes willing to make the trip.

“It’s been tough convincing our A-team athletes to participate,” Holder admitted. “Many have simply expressed disinterest in this particular event.” Among the high-profile absences is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a linchpin in the American relay machine over recent years, who recently announced her pregnancy. Her absence, along with several other elite sprinters, critically undermines the prospect of assembling a competitive squad.

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Holder also pointed to the financial strain of sending secondary teams overseas, suggesting those funds might be better invested in preparations for the 2027 and 2028 global championships. “We believe there are more strategic ways to allocate resources to maximize our medal potential in the upcoming years,” Holder explained. For local fans, this withdrawal is a bitter pill, denying them the chance to witness a burgeoning rivalry that has delivered some of the sport’s most exhilarating finishes in recent memory.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. narrowly edged Botswana in a nail-biting men’s 4x400m final. Rai Benjamin held off Botswana’s rising star, Letsile Tebogo, on the anchor leg, with the Americans clocking 2:54.43; just a whisker ahead of Botswana’s 2:54.53, the second- and third-fastest times ever recorded in the event.

But Botswana got its revenge at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, where Collen Kebinatshipi’s dazzling anchor leg overtook Benjamin in the final meters, delivering a historic win for the southern African nation. The chance to settle the score on home soil was supposed to be the marquee attraction of the 2026 relays. Instead, with the Americans absent, fans will have to wait until the 2027 World Championships for the next chapter in this compelling saga.

Efforts to reach Moses Bantsi, CEO of the 2026 World Relays, for comment on whether the U.S. withdrawal might dampen ticket sales went unanswered, leaving organizers tight-lipped on the fallout. Meanwhile, Botswana’s men’s relay squad has gathered in Francistown for training camp, joining the women’s team already in residence.

The athletes arrived fresh off strong performances at the Central Gauteng Athletics Provincial Championships last weekend. Among those competing were Tebogo himself, Anthony Pesela, making a comeback after a season sidelined by injury, Prince Selepe, and Boitumelo Masilo, all gearing up for what promises to be a crucial season. With the Americans stepping back, the spotlight now shines even brighter on Botswana’s homegrown talent as they prepare to defend their title and carry the hopes of a continent eager for sprinting glory.

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