Athletics | Canadian 4x100m relays head to Paris

The Canadian women’s and men’s 4x100m relay teams both qualified for the Paris Games on Saturday at the world relay championships, which were held in the Bahamas.

In the women’s 4 Quartet, at the start of the second of four qualifying waves, finished 2^e ranked behind the Poles, with a time of 42 s 98/100.

This result, their best of the season, earned them a place on the starting line in Paris.

Sade McCreath and Quebecer Marie-Éloïse Leclair were also part of the relay.

Leduc clocked the team’s best time, a spectacular 10.18 seconds, which allowed him to pass four sprinters. The Canadian record holder in the 100 meters thus moved from 6th^e at 2^e space during his stint. All that remained was for Crystal Emmanuel to validate the result.

The first two teams in each wave went on to the final, and thus got the Olympic ticket.

“My heart stopped and I realized we had made it together,” McCreath told the CBC. We were a bit worried, but we focused on the task at hand and we were ready. »

“It’s amazing, I have no other words,” Leduc continued. As I passed the baton to Crystal, I yelled, “Go girl,” but I don’t think she heard me.

“I heard you,” Emmanuel added.

— I saw on the screen that it was 2^ewe were waiting for the result, it’s incredible,” concluded Leduc.

“I’ve been here a long time, and seeing these women perform as expected, Canada needs to know we have a team going to the Olympics,” added Emmanuel. It’s a very emotional moment, I’ve been to the Olympics three times and I’m lucky enough to bring other women with me. »

In the men’s 4 x 100m relay, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse dominated their heat, with a time of 38.11 seconds, ahead of the Jamaicans. They also received their Olympic passport.