World Athletics Championships 2025: Alexis Holmes Anchors Team USA to World-Leading Time to Join Jamaica in 4x400m Final

The evening session on day eight of the World Athletics Championships had already seen a series of events happen, setting up a great stage for the women's 4x400m relay at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The top three to cross the finish line in each heat automatically qualify for the final, with the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers also sneaking in, meaning eight teams will have to be eliminated from the final.

The men's 4x400m had already seen an upset for America's squad, who failed to make the final after Demarius Smith encountered a problem and could not deliver the baton in time.

The race started out with Jamaica in the lead in the first 400m, but the race was relatively even, with a good running from with Italy having to make up some ground.

Jamaica's Stacey-Ann Williams then took the baton and started running well around the bend, but faltered a bit before handing over the baton.

Roneisha McGregor had some ground to cover, but that was not a bother to her as she easily covered the ground in 52.42 seconds. She handed the baton to Nikisha Pryce, who comfortably cruised to the final in a world-leading time of 3:22.77.

Norway, who were a bit slow from the start, covered the much-needed ground and their effort paid off well with a second-place finish in a national record time of 3:23.84. The team was anchored by Henriette Jaeger.

Poland came in third in the race, with their efforts from the start being paid off well with an automatic qualification to the final. Natalia Bukowiecka was the anchor, and she split 49.42 seconds, the fastest anchor leg of the heats.

The Great Britain quartet of Victoria Ohuruogu, Poppy Malik, Nicole Yeargin and Yemi Mary John could not make the cut after finishing a distant eighth in the race.

France were the first to storm out, through Amandine Brossier, with Sophie Becker of Ireland also not being left behind. Sophie Becker, who was looking comfortable with the intention of handing the baton to Lieke Klaver, but the Americans, through Britton Wilson, caught up with her. Heading to the second leg, they went side by side.

Dutch woman Lieke Klaver then received the baton in the third leg. Klaver is undeniably a comfortable athlete who understands how to run the curve, but a little gamble almost cost her, but she handed the baton safely to Rachel McCan.

The battle was now between the Netherlands, Americans, and France, but with Alexis Holmes on the anchor leg, anything could happen.

After being handed the baton, the American was flawless as she clocked a stunning 50.90 seconds, with the US clocking 3:22.53, obliterating Jamaica's earlier set world lead.

Helena Ponette-anchored Belgium, who had been prominent throughout the race, came in second in 3:23.96 as the Netherlands, anchored by Lisane De Witte, rounded up the podium in 3:24.03.

France sneaked into the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier, with Italy also making the cut. The final is scheduled for Sunday, September 21.