De Grasse, Leduc power Canadian 4x100m relay teams to spots at world championships

The Canadian men's and women's 4x100-metre relay teams qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships with performances on Saturday at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.

The men's team of Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Jerome Blake finished second in their heat to qualify for Sunday's final, but more importantly for them, clinch a spot at the world championships in Tokyo.

De Grasse told CBC Sports ahead of Saturday's race that this weekend was all about getting the team to worlds.

"The main objective for us [is to] make sure that we qualify … so that we are at the world championships when it matters," De Grasse said.

That automatic qualification was in doubt for the reigning Olympic champions until De Grasse lifted his team in the anchor leg.The Markham, Ont., native held off Australia and the Netherlands to cross the line in 38.15 seconds and secure second place behind Japan (37.84).

It was a similar story for the Canadian women's 4x100m team. Thanks to a blazing-fast anchor leg, Sade McCreath, Marie-Éloise Leclair, Catherine Léger, and Audrey Leduc secured their spot in Tokyo.

Canada was in fourth place when Leduc took the baton but she powered past the Italian and Dutch runners to secure a second-place finish (43.11) and clinch automatic qualification for the world championships and Sunday's final.

The Canadian women's 4x400m team also booked a spot a worlds. Jasneet Nijjar, Zoe Sherar, Lauren Gale, and Madeline Price finished fourth in their heat, but their time (3:37.28) was fast enough to qualify for Sunday's final and the world championships.

The Canadian mixed 4x100m team also advanced to their final by posting the top time across all of Saturday's heats.

The team of Gabrielle Cole, Jacqueline Madogo, Duan Asemota and Eliezer Adjibi finished in 40.90 to book their spot in the final. The mixed 4x100m is not being contested at this year's world championships.

Not every Canadian team was able to clinch a place at worlds and will need a result in Sunday's repechage heats.

The mixed 4x400m team of Austin Cole, Alyssa Marsh, Nathan George, and Dianna Proctor will also need to compete in a second-chance race after finishing last in their heat (3:22.37).

They'll need finish top two in their heat on Sunday to earn a spot in Tokyo.

Coverage will stream live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem beginning at 6:25 a.m. ET.