Jamaica lead the charge by virtue of a quartet which includes the winners of the last three 100m Olympic titles. A whole host of countries will be hoping to seize on any mistakes in front and catapult themselves to Olympic glory. Here’s our women’s 4 x 100m relay preview.

Schedule

Thursday 5 August 02:00 UK Time (Round 1) Friday 6 August 14:30 UK Time (Final)

Fastest times since 2019

2019 – present ranking	Time	Team
1	41.44	Jamaica
2	41.67	Germany
3	41.85	Great Britain & NI
4	42.1	United States
5	42.18	Switzerland
6	42.21	USC
7	42.28	Netherlands
8	42.29	LSU
8	42.29	Jamaican Select
10	42.31	China

British interest

GB & NI have a very strong quartet and may well mix up their team in the heats. Dina Asher-Smith, Beth Dobbin, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Daryll Neita, Ashleigh Nelson, Asha Philip make up the team.

Teams

1. Brazil – Ana Carolina Azevedo, Ana Claudia Lemos, Lorraine Martins, Vitoria Cristina Rosa, Rosangela Santos
2. China – Manqi Ge, Guiffen Huang, He Li, Yuting Li, Xiaojing Liang, Yongli Wei
3. Denmark – Astrid Glenner-Frandsen, Mette Graversgaard, Ida Karstoft, Mathilde Kramer, Louise Ostergaard
4. Ecuador – Yuliana Angulo, Marizol Landazuri, Gabriela Anahi Suarez, Angela Gabriela Tenorio, Virginia Elizabeth Villalba
5. France – Wided Atatou, Eva Berger, Cynthia Leduc, Orlann Ombissa-Dzangue, Maroussia Pare, Carolle Zahi
6. Germany – Alexandra Burghardt, Gina Luckenkemper, Lisa Mayer, Jennifer Montag, Lisa Nippgen, Tatjana Pinto
7. Great Britain – Dina Asher-Smith, Beth Dobbin, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Daryll Neita, Ashleigh Nelson, Asha Philip
8. Italy – Anna Bongiorni, Zaynab Dosso, Vitoria Fontana, Johanellis Herrera Abreu, Irene Siragusa
9. Jamaica – Remona Burchell, Shericka Jackson, Natasha Morrison, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Briana Williams
10. Japan – Hanae Aoyama, Aiko Iki, Yu Ishikawa, Mei Kodama, Ami Saito, Remi Tsuruta
11. Netherlands – Jamile Samuel, Dafne Schippers, Naomi Sedney, Marije van Hunenstijn, Leonie van Vliet
12. Nigeria – Rosemary Chukwima, Tima Godbless, Grace Nwokocha, Favour Ofili, Blessing Okagbare, Knowledge Omovoh
13. Poland – Klaudia Adamek, Marlena Gola, Paulina Guzowska, Paulina Paluch, Marika Popowicz-Drapala, Ewa Soboda
14. Switzerland – Alja Del Ponte, Riccarda Dietsche, Mujinga Kambundji, Salomé Kora, Cynthia Reinle
15. Trinidad & Tobago – Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Semoy Hackett, Kai Selvon, Khalifa St Fort, Alya Stanisclaus
16. USA – Teahna Daniels, English Gardner, Aleia Hobbs, Javianne Oliver, Jenna Prandini

The favourites

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.63) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.71) are included in the Jamaican team that will be a red hot favourite for gold. Between them they boast Bejiing, London and Rio gold in the individual 100m. Shericka Jackson (10.77) and Natasha Morrison (10.87) will likely finish the quartet and all four would likely make the individual final if nations weren’t capped at three representatives. Briana Williams (10.97) is world class back up. Should they get the baton round it is difficult to see the gold going anywhere else.

I would argue the British quartet is the next best. Dina Asher-Smith (10.83) needs no introduction and she is ably supported by three more world class athletes in Daryll Neita (11.04), Imani Lansiquot (11.09) and Asha Philip (11.10). Beth Dobbin (11.51) and Ashleigh Nelson (11.34) will be called upon if required.

Team USA are no doubt weakened by the absence of Sha’Carri Richardson (10.72) due to her Olympic trials results being expunged (she received a one month ban after testing positive for marijuana). That said they still have a capable team and may well go under the radar. Aleia Hobbs ran 10.90 in 2018, Jenna Prandini 10.96 the same year. Javianne Oliver has also run 10.96, Teahna Daniels 10.99 with English Gardner 11.02. Though none of them have reached this level in 2021 they will contest the medals and are a genuine silver medal shot.

Germany will launch another European challenge. Gina Luckenkemper ran 10.98 in 2018, Alexandra Burghardt 11.01 this year and they will be joined by Tatjana Pinto (11.09) and Lisa Mayer (11.12) in a very strong quartet.

Switzerland will be highly competitive. Mujinga Kambundji has broken 11 seconds (10.95) and she is supported by an in form Alja Del Ponte (11.07) Salomé Kora (11.12) and Riccarda Dietsche (11.41). They look likely to be in medal contention should others falter.

Nigeria will compete with their likely four all under 11.30 seconds. Blessing Okagbare (10.89), Grace Nwokocha (11.09), Rosemary Chukwuma (11.18) and Knowledge Omovoh (11.26).

China have a trio of top athletes in Yongli Wei (10.99), Manqi Ge (11.04) and Xiaojing Liang (11.13) but may come short just due to their final member. Guiffen Huang (11.44), Yuting Li (11.44) and He Li (11.54) make up the squad.

Our medal predictions

1. Jamaica
2. GB & NI
3. USA

Records

WR: 40.82 USA (2012)

OR: 40.82 USA (2012 London)

Enjoy our women’s 4 x 100m preview? For all the other event check out the below.

Featured image “File:2019-09-01 ISTAF 2019 4 x 100 m relay race (Martin Rulsch) 06.jpg” by Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0