The world awaits for Australia’s premier sprinters who have touched down in Gaborone, Botswana for the 2026 World Athletics Relays this weekend, where global medals and tickets to the 2027 World Athletics Championships headline the stakes.
A final team of 28 athletes will divide and conquer the six events on the program from May 2-3, spearheaded by Australian record holder Torrie Lewis (QLD) in the Women’s 4x100m and sub-10 second man Lachlan Kennedy (QLD) in the Men’s 4x100m.
Australia’s sprinting depth will be on full display as one of the country’s strongest relay teams, the Men’s 4x400m, look to officially take down the longstanding national record of 2:59.70 set in 1978.
With three men who have shattered the 45-second barrier in the form of Reece Holder (QLD), Aidan Murphy (SA) and Cooper Sherman (VIC) available, along with more knocking on the door, the squad is developing into a major championship contender.
“I’m proud to take it on and with the squad we have, I think we can put together something really strong in Botswana,” Murphy said.
The top 12 teams in each of the six events will automatically qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, with the top two teams in each of the four heats advancing to the finals on day two where they will compete for medals and prize money.
Australian 100m champion Georgia Harris (QLD) will bolster a new-look Women’s 4x100m for Gaborone, with their campaign set to reflect the teamwork required to make it as a relay nation at the highest level.
Olympians Lewis and Ebony Lane (QLD) add experience to the squad, who are welcoming the challenge of stepping up on the big stage.
“I’m really excited to be here with the team. There’s a great energy around the group and everyone is just focussed on executing when it counts,” Harris said.
“It’s a special opportunity to represent Australia, so I’m just looking forward to getting out there and competing.”
The Men’s 4x100m will feature a star-studded lineup including Kennedy, Joshua Azzopardi (NSW) and Rohan Browning (NSW), three of the seven fastest Australian men in history, set to take on global powerhouses including the United States and Jamaica.
The team set an Australian record of 37.87-seconds last year and advanced to the World Championships final, while the Women’s 4x400m pool is headed by Australian champion Ellie Beer (QLD) and the versatile Mia Gross (VIC).
The top six teams in each of the Mixed 4x100m and the Mixed 4x400m in Gaborone will automatically qualify for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September.
Australian viewers can tune in to the 2026 World Athletics Relays via World Athletics + from 10:00pm AEST Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.
Men’s 4x100m (6) – Joshua Azzopardi, Rohan Browning, Jai Gordon, Christopher Ius, Lachlan Kennedy, Calab Law
Women’s 4x100m (8) – Olivia Dodds, Monique Hanlon, Georgia Harris, Olivia Hastings, Ebony Lane, Torrie Lewis, Chloe Mannix-Power, Lakara Stallan
Men’s 4x400m (7) – Zane Branco, Reece Holder, Matthew Hunt, Aidan Murphy, Thomas Reynolds, Cooper Sherman, Luke van Ratingen
Women’s 4x400m (7) – Ellie Beer, Carla Bull, Sarah Carli, Alice Dixon, Mia Gross, Alexia Loizou, Alanah Yukich
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 1/5/2026
