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00:00They are going to be big contenders when it comes to the World Championship.
00:03All being said, at the start of a long season, we're in May,
00:05and the World Championships are in September, and you hear that a lot from people
00:08to say they've got to sustain it all the way through.
00:11A multitude of national records at the top end of the women's 4x4,
00:15but another upset as the United States, the Olympic champions,
00:18were beaten by Spain, who continued their fine weekend,
00:20and South Africa also rewarded with a national record as they take the Bronx.
00:23And here we go then, the final event of the World Athletics Relay,
00:30Guangzhou 2025, men's 4x400-meter relay.
00:35Great Britain go in the outside lane 9.
00:38Toby Harris, Efekomo Okoro, Joshua Folds, and Rio Mitchum.
00:48Belgium are next to them.
00:50They were 4th at the Paris Olympics, whereas Great Britain were bronze.
00:54Secure, Van der Bemden, Segers, and Dum.
01:00South Africa take lane 7.
01:03They were 5th at Paris.
01:05They were the fastest qualifiers here yesterday.
01:07Claudio Isaacs leads them out to pass it on to Ocon, Kokomoa, and Nene.
01:12They mean business.
01:15France, they were 9th at Paris, but they won their heat yesterday
01:18in the second fastest time.
01:20They're also tipped too well here.
01:22Led out by Koulibaly, then Prevo, Somme, and Sudril.
01:28Botswana are next in lane 5.
01:35French fans in the house.
01:37Here we go.
01:38Olympic silver medalists.
01:40Led out by Epi, Oratil, Rangwe, and Scotch.
01:44They are missing Tobogo, 200-metre champion at the Olympics,
01:50but the Botswana fans are in the house.
01:54They're excited to cheer on their teammates.
01:56Kenya down on their knees.
01:58Lane 4.
01:59Tonui, Ekwang, Morisa, and Kit Korea will see the Kenyans home.
02:04To the inside lanes, then.
02:09We go to lane 3.
02:11Portugal, outstanding result yesterday.
02:14Never qualified for a world champs before this team,
02:16but Tavares will lead them out.
02:18Then Dos Santos, El Cativy, and Franco.
02:22And here we go, then.
02:27The final team.
02:30Lane 2.
02:30It is China.
02:32Bao will lead them out.
02:34Followed by Yu, Zheng, and Li will bring them home.
02:39Ready for the crowd to be very loud indeed.
02:45China, the crowd here has hung around to see the end of this two days of competition through,
02:50because China did an outstanding run yesterday to book their ticket to Tokyo to the world champs this year.
02:58What can they deliver in this final of the men's 4x400 metres?
03:04It's all to play for.
03:05Eight teams, glory at stake.
03:10China on the inside.
03:12Portugal, 3.
03:13Kenya, 4.
03:14Botswana, 5.
03:15France, 6.
03:17South Africa, 7.
03:18Belgium, 8.
03:19And Great Britain.
03:20And the outside in 9.
03:26Left.
03:29This is the final men's 4x400 metre relay.
03:33Botswana are out strong, but it really is anyone's.
03:37Look at the centre of your screen.
03:38Look at Epi of Botswana already making gains on France in lane 6 there.
03:43But it's a long race.
03:44Four laps of this 400 metre track.
03:47And look there.
03:48Belgium almost on the shoulder of Harry's from Great Britain.
03:52Both running strong, both running strong, but yes, Secure from Belgium, fourth at Paris, just missed out on the medal.
03:59We'll come round in the lead here as we go into a staggered changeover into the second leg.
04:06It is not until, oh look, Harry's coming back for Great Britain.
04:09The first changeover will happen for Secure at just about the same time as South Africa and Botswana.
04:15And Great Britain on the outside.
04:17Botswana now really in the race.
04:20South Africa, Ocon for them having a really strong run.
04:24And this is where the stagger onwind.
04:26They all go into one lane, into the left-hand side.
04:29Lane one, and you can see Botswana, yep, Oratil and Botswana is slightly in the lead.
04:34Followed by South Africa, followed by what looks like Great Britain and Bel...
04:40No, it's France, then Belgium.
04:43Great Britain back in fifth.
04:45About to go onto the third leg as we come through it onto the home straight.
04:47Really beautiful running here.
04:50Very close for the top four.
04:51Great Britain just flailing there in a bit that Botswana won.
04:55South Africa two, France three so far.
04:58Twelve months ago, there was an absolutely thrilling battle all the way to the line.
05:01The men's 4x400 metres between Botswana and South Africa.
05:05An all-African battle, and they are in positions one and two right now as Botswana with Kabu.
05:10Ranguei down the back straight.
05:12South Africa in pursuit with Linda Kukumola.
05:15France in the third leg with David Somme.
05:17And one of their experienced roulette runners just in behind there in Belgium.
05:20Daniel Sagan who had a great leg yesterday.
05:23And Kenya closing in fifth position as well.
05:25It's Boniface Mareza who has the baton for them.
05:28That's the battle for two, three, four and five at the moment as Botswana.
05:32Two and three metres clear.
05:33But South Africa finishing strongly down the home straight here.
05:36And we'll hand the baton over in front.
05:37Botswana, the defending champions going backwards at the moment.
05:40South Africa, France, Botswana and Belgium.
05:42And that is Nene for South Africa that leads them out on the final leg of this men's 4x400 metres.
05:49France in hot pursuit.
05:50That cheer that just went round the stadium is because China have got the baton on their final leg.
05:54And there's going to be cheers all along.
05:56But at the front of this race is Nene for South Africa.
05:59Suju for France.
06:00Botswana in hot pursuit.
06:02Scotch there.
06:03Part of the Olympic team.
06:04And Belgium do not discount Dome.
06:07And Kenya kicking hard.
06:09Fifth position.
06:10That's kick career of Kenya.
06:12And here we come.
06:12Down into the home straight for the final 100 metres of this competition.
06:16South Africa leader.
06:18Nene.
06:18He's got the legs.
06:19He's got the acceleration.
06:20Botswana coming in second.
06:22But look at Dome.
06:23Is it going to take second?
06:24South Africa crossing first.
06:25And oh my goodness.
06:26Dome from Belgium takes it on the line.
06:29Botswana in third.
06:30What an exceptional race to finish on.
06:33Portugal crossing the line.
06:34And China finish off that brilliant 4x400 metre relay.
06:44I hope South Africa have got some excess baggage booked for their flight home.
06:47Because they've got a lot of money going back in there.
06:50Baggage.
06:50Another prize pot.
06:52And another world class performance from South Africa.
06:55Who reversed the fortunes against Botswana from 12 months ago.
06:59Botswana are delighted by the way.
07:00Because as we know.
07:01It's a much changed team for them.
07:03Yes.
07:03Leungo Scott's on the anchor leg.
07:05And Lea Eppi on the opening leg.
07:07But there'll be some really important medals for members of their team there as well.
07:11Which is why they are celebrating there as well.
07:13So Africa dominating the podium that sandwiched by Belgium with the world indoor champion of former year.
07:19Alexander Dome coming home strongly as well in their experience quartet.
07:23But Nene looked imperious coming down the home straight there.
07:26Again ran a 43 o'clocking yesterday I think.
07:29And that didn't show any sign of that in his legs at all.
07:32And the bronze medalist from the Olympics here.
07:35Great Britain.
07:35That was a good fast exchange.
07:37But it wasn't enough.
07:38They weren't really in it.
07:40It was not their Olympic team.
07:42Oh look.
07:42A little bit of arm tussling there between France and Belgium.
07:46Neighbours in more ways than one.
07:48And look.
07:50Botswana.
07:51South Africa.
07:51Really exceptional running there.
07:54As we do this exchange.
07:57Look at the intent on their faces.
08:01Oh it was so close.
08:04Yeah.
08:04Yeah it was actually the end of that leg.
08:06Here's Kirkamo coming down the home straight.
08:07The momentum with which he finished is what propelled South Africa forward.
08:11And Nene was able to then to move away.
08:13Great leg here from France.
08:14Although they couldn't maintain it on the final leg.
08:16But that was that little move there from Kirkamo.
08:18Really set the platform for that final leg.
08:21Certainly did.
08:22And here we see Nene.
08:24Cool as you like.
08:26Looking in control.
08:27Looking relaxed.
08:29Shoulders not hunched.
08:31Beautiful running style.
08:33As he comes down that home straight.
08:36He never looks like there was any trouble going on at all.
08:39Didn't care what was going on behind him.
08:40Scotch from Botswana.
08:41Really reaching.
08:43And look at the tall figure of Dome on the left hand side in the white top.
08:46Brilliant finish from him.
08:48Absolutely exceptional.
08:50To take it on the line.
08:52And do Belgium.
08:54Very proud indeed.
08:56Zekiti then a 43 points.