USA Withdraws 4x400m Relay Teams from 2026 World Relays

The United States will not send its men's and women's 4x400m relay teams to the 2026 World Athletics Relays scheduled for May 2-3 in Gaborone, Botswana. This decision, communicated by USATF Chief Content Communication Officer Jai Holder, stems from two main reasons: the difficulty in finding top-tier U.S. athletes willing to compete and financial costs associated with sending teams.

USATF will, however, send teams for four mixed events, including the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m. Holder noted that many athletes expressed disinterest in competing, and the financial burden of sending a B or C team was also a consideration.

The U.S. team aims to qualify for the 2027 World Championships through world rankings, with a focus on domestic opportunities to post fast times. The absence of the U.S. team means that fans in Botswana will miss out on a compelling rivalry, as the U.S. and Botswana have recently competed closely in the men's 4x400m at global championships.