The –Womens×women's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2023 World Athletics Championships was held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on 24 and 25 August 2023.
Summary
Jamaica had all of three 2022 World Championships 100m medalists, but double Olympic Gold Medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah ran in the heats and was replaced by 200 metre Gold Medalist Shericka Jackson in the final. The USA replaced Tamara Clark and Melissa Jefferson with 200 metre silver medalist Gabby Thomas and 100 metre Gold Medalist Sha'Carri Richardson.
Côte d'Ivoire set an African record of 41.90 in the heats.
In the final, out of the blocks, USA's Tamari Davis gained against the stagger of Jamaica's Natasha Morrison who in turn was gaining on GBR's Asha Philip. USA passed first to Twanisha Terry. Jamaica passed late to their fifteen time World Championship medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who recaptured some of the distance lost, passing GBR's Imani-Lara Lansiquot down the backstretch. USA and Jamaica passed virtually together, but that meant USA in the inside had the advantage. This exchange was a disaster for Côte d'Ivoire as Marie-Josée Ta Lou tripped over Jessika Gbai, both athletes crashing to the track. Thomas brought USA around the turn ahead of Jamaica's Shashalee Forbes, only GBR with Bianca Williams and the Netherlands with Nadine Visser still battling for the bronze. Tasa Jiya started running too early, never connecting with Visser and GBR had clear sailing to bronze. Richardson got the baton for USA two metres up on Jamaica's Jackson. The United States was clear to win with Jamaica two metres back and GBR's Daryll Neita 10 metres back. The winning time of 41.03 took down Jamaica's Championships Record and was the fourth best time ever run, the third best by an American squad. Jamaica's 41.21 was number 8 on that same all time list, the fourth best by a Jamaican squad.
Records
Before the competition records were as follows:
Qualification standard
After the postponement for COVID-19 pandemic reasons of the 2023 World Relays to 2024 Nassau, the modified system to qualify automatically is to have finished in the first eight (finalists) at 2022 World Championships, in Eugene, completed by eight more 2022-2023 top lists' teams.
The top 8 from the 2022 World Athletics Championships:
(1st) (2nd) (3rd) (4th) (5th) (6th) (7th) (8th)
Top list before the 30 July 2023: 42.23 Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) - 30 June 2023 42.38 Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) - 23 July 2023 42.61 Olympiastadion, München (GER) - 21 August 2022 43.16 Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (GBR) - 07 August 2022 43.17 San Salvador (ESA) - 06 July 2023 43.24 Olympiastadion, München (GER) - 19 August 2022 43.34 Grand Bahama Sports Complex, Freeport (BAH) - 21 AUG 2022 Not entered (was Next best by Top List) 43.35 Central Stadium, Almaty (KAZ) - 01 JUL 2023 Not entered (was Next best by Top List) 43.43 43.43 - San Salvador (ESA) - 06 July 2023 43.45 43.45 - San Salvador (ESA) - 06 JUL 2023 Not entered (was Next best by Top List) 43.47 COTP Stadium, São Paulo (BRA) - 29 July 2023
Schedule
The event schedule, in local time (UTC+2), was as follows:
Results
Heats
The first three in each heat (Q) and the next two fastest (q) qualified for the final.
Final
The final was started on 26 August at 21:53.