Athletics Canada names team for 2024 Bahamas World Athletics Relays

Press release from Athletics Canada: If teamwork really does make the dream work, then Canada is dreaming big with the announcement of the 28 athletes representing the Maple Leaf at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, on May 4 and 5.
 
“I tend to tell the athletes to reflect on trust. Trust each other out there, because ultimately, whatever lane you’re in, that’s the only lane your focus needs to be on, and there needs to be trust,” said Canada’s head coach Glenroy Gilbert – himself an Olympic champion in the 4×100 metre relay and two-time World Champion in the 4×100 metre relay. “So if you trust one another, you’ve got to go out there and demonstrate that by waiting, by anticipating, by leading each other and making sure you’re taking care of the incoming runner.

If teamwork really does make the dream work, then Canada is dreaming big with the announcement of the 28 athletes representing the maple leaf at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, May 4 and 5.

Read the full team announcement below ⬇️ https://t.co/DPg4V9NU8j

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) April 11, 2024

Meet Team Canada

The squad representing Canada includes members of the men’s 100 metre relay team that has medalled at each of the last two Olympic Games and won gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2022, in addition to world champions and World Athletics Championships medallists, as well as Olympians and Olympic medallists.
 
Competing in Nassau at the 2024 World Athletics Relays will be: Aaron Brown, Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Malachi Murray, Duan Asemota, , Audrey Leduc, Sade McCreath, Jacqueline Madogo, Crystal Emmanuel, Donna Ntambue, Marie-Éloïse Leclair, Christopher Morales Williams, Myles Misener-Daley, Jalon White, Michael Roth, Will Floyd, Marco Arop, Ibrahim Ayorinde, Callum Robinson, Kyra Constantine, Zoe Sherar, Aiyanna Stiverne, Ella Clayton, Lauren Gale, Alyssa Marsh, Brooke Overholt, and Madeline Price.
 
“The challenge for me is just making sure that we get the order and the right personnel in the right spot on the track, but also that the athletes are able to execute – perform on demand when it counts the most,” Gilbert said.

Road to Paris Runs Through Bahamas

The top 14 teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will automatically qualify for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
 
The programme for the 2024 World Athletics Relays consists of five relay disciplines – men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, plus the mixed 4x400m and Canada will compete in each discipline.
 
“The main goal is to qualify both the women’s 4×400 and mixed 4×400 for Paris. That is first and foremost,” said Zoe Sherar. “I think getting on the podium would also be a goal. It is very early in the season but our group has shown that we are ready to run fast now, and with a couple more races, I think we will be set up well to run some fast times.”
 
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to qualify them for Paris. We want one of the14 spots that are going to be available there. That’s not going to be an easy task, but I think we have athletes who are capable,” said Gilbert. “I think the competition level will be high. Our athletes have historically been able to rise to the occasion.”

Return to Relays

The last edition of World Athletics Relays was in Poland in 2021. Having announced a team of 24 athletes, gearing up to compete for Olympic qualification for the Tokyo Games that took place later that summer, Athletics Canada was one of several countries that decided to withdraw from the event, as the sport world adapted to travel restrictions and health precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Bahamas 2024 represents Canada’s first trip to World Athletics Relays since the 2019 event in Yokohama, Japan. The Canadian mixed 4×400 metre team of Austin Cole, Aiyanna-Brigitte Stiverne, Zoe Sherar and Philip Osei took silver. The team of Sage Watson, Madeline Price, Maya Stephens and Alicia Brown were 4^th in the women’s 4×400 metre final.
 
“The 2019 World Relays was my very first national team and running in the final on the mixed 4×400 metres was an incredible learning experience, especially since I was only 19,” Sherar said. “Since then, I have become a lot more confident in my role on the team and have learned from some of the older women who have been amazing mentors over the years. Going into this year’s event, I think we have a very experienced group who has been on teams together and ran in some big races and that experience is going to be valuable.”

Follow Team Canada at Bahamas24

Stream all the action from the World Athletics Relays live on CBC.ca and on TV on CBC Sports, as Canada looks to book their spots on the Olympic start line with strong results in Bahamas.
 
Keep up with the Canadian team on our social media channels: Instagram, Facebook and X.

Team Canada – 2024 World Athletics Relays

* Non-Travelling Reserve