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At the pre-event press conference for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, 10 of the worlds best sprinters spoke of their ambitions to secure Olympic relay qualification this weekend when they compete at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau.

Noah Lyles the world 100m, 200m and 4x100m champion will be aiming to secure USAs place at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the mens 4x100m. Hell also be using this weekends event as a stepping stone towards a potential tilt at winning four medals at the Games, where he intends to compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m.

He wont, however, be contesting the longer event in Nassau.

I wont be running the 4x400m here when I did it at the World Indoors, lets just say it caused a lot of controversy, said Lyles, who ran third leg for the USA in the 4x400m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, where he claimed silver. This year I will be training specifically for the 100m and 200m, but also to be in good shape for the 400m so that I can be part of the 4x400m at the Paris Olympics. Im in the best shape of my life, and I know Ive been saying that for two years, but its very true.

Marcell Jacobs, the defending Olympic 100m and 4x100m champion and defending World Relays 4x100m winner, will be doing all he can to prevent Lyles reaching the top of the podium in Nassau and Paris.

There has been a lot of change in my life since Budapest, said the Italian. Ive moved to the US and changed coaches. Im really happy the work weve been doing in training is really good. Now Im here with my teammates; were the defending World Relays champions and the Olympic champions and hopefully well win again here.

Seven years on from forming part of the victorious Bahamian mixed 4x400m team in Nassau, two-time Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo will race on home soil again as she continues her comeback following the birth of her son Maicel in April last year.

Training has been going really well. Were back at it full time now and just getting things ready for the Olympic Games, she said.

Reflecting on the 2017 World Relays, she added: Thats a memory that really stuck with us. Being able to compete at home, and on top of that to bring home the gold in the first mixed relay, it was awesome. We heard the crowd going crazy and we ran with it from there. Were definitely going to come out here and put on a show for the crowd.

World 200m finalist Anthonique Strachan also formed part of that winning mixed relay squad seven years ago and after being convinced by her teammates Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner, shes stepping up again.

Im just helping out the quarter-milers this weekend, she laughed. They need an extra little fast leg, Im going to try to be that. Im not a quarter-miler, thats not my event. Shaunae had to beg me Shaunae and Stevie, they sort of cornered me!

Steven Gardiner, the Olympic 400m champion, has great faith in Strachan and his other teammates.

Many people here were involved in putting together our mixed relay team, he said. Anthonique did an amazing job in 2017, so why not have her on the team again? I know what shes capable of doing shes a fighter, so I know shell bring the stick around. She just talks, but she will do it.

Alonzo Russell, Olympic bronze medallist in the mens 4x400m in 2016, will be making his mixed relay debut this weekend and cannot wait to join three of the victorious athletes from 2017.

Its my first time on a mixed relay, said Russell, who last competed at the World Relays back in 2015, also in Nassau. Im excited to put in a strong performance in front of a home crowd and get the team to Paris.

World indoor 60m hurdles champion Devynne Charlton is no stranger to a relay, but this will be her first time competing at the global event.

Im a hurdler that can sprint. Its a little different, it takes me back to high school and college because I was doing double duties there. Im excited to be in a team environment again.

It also gives her the opportunity to race back on home soil, where she received a celebratory homecoming after her success in Glasgow in March.

It was a big deal when I came home, the reception was amazing, she said. I almost wasnt able to walk the streets because people were stopping to get a picture with me. It was overwhelming but amazing to see the pride that Bahamian people felt for something that I did.

Another global gold medallist in action is Lieke Klaver, who formed part of the triumphant Dutch womens 4x400m teams at the World Championships in Budapest and World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

The main goal is to qualify all five teams for the Olympics. Thats what we came for, she said.

Sharing insight into her mindset when on the track with her teammates, she added: I always try to keep my heartbeat as low as possible, not to get too much of the environment inside of me. I focus on the girls I know its just four of us and that makes me so calm. I like to be on the first leg because then I can pass on the baton and let the girls do the rest and not look! But the second leg, I love it. Theres so much speed.

After running a recent 11.02 100m, just 0.03 off her PB, Olympic and world relay medallist Imani Lansiquot also has Paris qualification ambitions for her Great Britain 4x100m team.

Weve been training really hard. All eyes are on Paris and I feel like Im in fantastic shape, she said. This is my first World Relays. It fit perfectly with my preparations for the year and I feel like Im going to do a really good job for my team.

Few athletes will be feeling the pressure this weekend as much as Teo Andant and his French teammates.

The mens 4x400m quartet provided France with their only medal at last years World Championships, so expectations are high as they approach an Olympic Games on home soil.

Ive done a round-the-world trip Ive been to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa just to be ready for the Olympics, he said. Were all very ready and were very determined. Its the year of our lives for us French athletes a home Olympics comes around just once in 100 years, so weve got to get this one right.

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Olympic qualification the main goal for global stars in Nassau | News | Bahamas 24 - World Athletics

In the latest episode of the World Athletics Inside Track Podcast, released today (4 May), Sanya Richards-Ross, Richard Kilty and Kelly Sotherton are in The Bahamas for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, and they preview an exciting weekend of competition together with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and CEO Jon Ridgeon.

Coe and Ridgeon paired up with Richards-Ross and Sotherton respectively to give their predictions for the mens and womens 4x100m and 4x400m as well as the mixed relay. Ridgeon and Sotherton had a bold prediction for the mens 4x400m, giving a podium place to India, who theyve identified as a rising powerhouse in athletics.

But the highlight of the chat for Richards-Ross and Sotherton was the announcement by Ridgeon of an intention to test the viability of a mixed 4x100m event.

The whole mixed relay thing is actually a really interesting concept, and, in many ways, we think that mixed athletics could be the future, said Ridgeon. For example, we are this year looking into testing a concept of a mixed 4x100m relay. Were not saying its going to work; were not saying that it will be an event, but it is one of the things that we are going to be testing. We are starting with an open mind and were starting with all various variations.

Richards-Ross and Sotherton lit up with the suggestion, and volunteered themselves to be part of the testing phase. Richards-Ross then offered suggestions on the formation of teams: What if there is a draw to determine who runs which leg right before the start of the event. How interesting would that be to spice it up even more.

Kilty, who is part of Great Britains mens 4x100m squad in Nassau, joined Sotherton and Richards-Ross in making predictions, while they also provided clarification on the qualification process for relay teams to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This is the first in a series of World Athletics Inside Track Podcast episodes from Nassau, all available via the usual podcast platforms including on Apple Podcasts,Spotifyandthe Sport Social Podcast Network while fans can also watch the show on the World Athletics website.

With an evolving presenter line-up, the podcast will return later in the year, as an all-star cast will provide a preview to the events at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Find it all on Inside Track.

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World Athletics Inside Track Podcast back in The Bahamas | News | Bahamas 24 - World Athletics

South Africa will have a fighting chance to challenge for a medal now that Van Niekerk has committed to the relay team joining rising stars Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay.

Pillay recently became the second-fastest South African in the 400m behind Van Niekerk winning the national championships in a new personal best of 44.31 seconds. All three men are expected to feature in the one-lap sprint at Paris 2024 after setting Olympic qualifying times.

Forming the chore of the South African 4x400m team, the trio will be looking to add another chapter to the countrys successes in the relay on the global stage.

Former national record holder Arnaud Malherbe, Jopie van Oudtshoorn, Hendrik Mokganyetsi, and Adriaan Botha earned an upgrade from fourth place to a bronze medal from the 1999 World Championships in Seville. The foursome received a retrospective bronze medal 10 years later when the United States was disqualified. Antonio Pettigrew admitted to doping during that period.

A South African quartet which included former world 400m hurdles bronze medallist LJ van Zyl won the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

The World Relays also serves as a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 where the finalists in each event will obtain Olympic quotas. The top two teams in each heat on the opening day will advance to the final on day two.

Men's 4x100 metres relay - Clarence Munyai, Bradley Botshelo Nkoana, Benjamin Richardson, Rivaldo Roberts, Akani Simbine, Tshepo Jason Tyantini, Bayanda Walaza.

Men's 4x400 metres relay - Gardeo Isaacs, Wiaan Martin, Mthi Mthimkulu, Zakithi Nene, Antonie Matthys Nortje, Lythe Pillay, Tumisang Shezi, Wayde van Niekerk.

Mixed 4x400 metres relay - Zeny Geldenhuys (W), Rogail Joseph (W), Mthi Mthimkulu (M), Amy Naude (W), Shirley Nekhubui (W), Antonie Matthys Nortje (M).

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How to watch Wayde van Niekerk live on 4-5 May at the World Athletics Relays 2024 in Nassau, Bahamas - Olympics

PublishedMay 4, 2024 9:43 AM EDT|UpdatedMay 4, 2024 9:43 AM EDT

JJ McCarthy and Katya Kuropas have made their move to the NFL official by doing what any rich person would do: jet off to an island and soak in the sun while basking in your newfound wealth.

I'll never get to experience that feeling. You probably won't, either. But JJ and the new First Lady of Minnesota, OutKick OG Katya Kuropas, are currently going through it in the Bahamas as they gear up for OTAs in a few weeks.

This is how you start your NFL WAG career:

I think I'm slowly starting to turn into a huge JJ McCarthy fan.

I didn't think he was anything special in college, all the way up until he won a national title. Even then, I wasn't really convinced.

That Michigan team was loaded, had an insane defense, and just ran through the entire country. JJ made a few nice plays every game, especially with his feet, and that was enough.

But jetting off to the Bahamas with your smokeshow fiance and just weirdly holding a flamingo because it's funny? I can 100% get behind that dude.

And this one:

Yeah, I'm slowly starting to turn. I've always been #TeamKatya, for obvious reasons. I was there the night she became a star two years ago, I was there when she won a title earlier this year, and I'm here for the NFL WAG journey.

But I was never a huge McCarthy guy until now. But this sort of content? I think he may just make it in this league.

Can't wait to find out.

PS: this is funny. And true:

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JJ McCarthy And His Viral Fiance Are Currently Dominating The Bahamas - Outkick

All eyes on Noah Lyles, Marcell Jacobs in the 4x100m

Triple world champion Lyles, who anchored the 4x100m relay team U.S. to gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, returns to the World Relays seeking his first title after two silvers from past editions.

He was part of the silver-winning teams, both in the 4x100m in 2019 and the 4x200m when he made his debut at the World Relays two years prior.

With a treble in sight at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 26-year-olds target in the Bahamas will be to lead Team USA to the 4x100m gold.

Lyles will be joined by fellow Tokyo 2020 medallist, Kenny Bednarek, along with Courtney Lindsey, the fastest man at 200m this year.

It will also be exciting to see how the Olympic and European champion Jacobs performs in the Bahamas. He hasnt competed in a relay since winning silver behind the Lyles-led Team USA in Budapest in the 4x100m.

The Italian quartet should remain unchanged from the lineup at the last World championships, featuring Roberto Rigali, and Olympic champs Lorenzo Patta and Filippo Tortu.

World indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake has been included in Jamaica's team, which notably lacks world and Olympic gold medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and even reigning 400m gold medallist Antonio Watson.

The sprint firepower of Kenya and South Africa is also expected to be on display at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

African 100m record holder Omanyala leads his Kenyan teams Olympic chase, while Simbine knows what he wants to achieve for South Africa after experiencing several individual setbacks at the world and Olympic level.

I want South Africa to win, Akani whos just come off winning his seventh 100m title told World Athletics.

Weve had the worst luck when it comes to relays. We either dont make the zone or drop it. Its been very frustrating.

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World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24: Preview, schedule, track stars to watch and how to follow the event live - Olympics

NASSAU, Bahamas A pair of Arkansas alums Chris Bailey and Paris Peoples will be part of Team USA this weekend, May 4-5, during the 2024 World Relays as the top 14 teams seek qualification to the Paris Olympics this summer.

There will be five relay events at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium mens and womens 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays as well as a mixed 4 x 400m relay.

Bailey is part of the mens 4 x 400m relay pool while Peoples is part of the womens 4 x 400m relay pool along with Alexis Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville.

Coverage of the meet will be available through NBC on Peacock at 6 p.m. CT each day.

The top 14 teams in each event of the World Relays will automatically qualify for places at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. The two remaining places in each discipline will be awards based on top lists during the qualification period, which is from December 31, 2022 to June 30, 2024.

Prize money awards during the World Relays will have $40,000 for first place, followed by $20,000, $10,000, $8,000, $6,000, $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000 for places second through eighth.

If a team breaks a world record, a price of $50,000 will be awarded, subject to ratification.

Bailey ran on the United States 4 x 400m relay during the 2023 World Championships prelims last August. Team USA claimed gold in the final. Then in March of this year, Bailey ran the anchor leg as the United States finished as the silver medalist in the World Indoor Championships.

Holmes anchored the United States mixed relay to a world record victory in Budapest, Hungary, last summer at the 2023 World Championships. In March, at the World Indoors, Holmes ran anchor leg on a silver medal finish for the United States 4 x 400m relay. Individually, Holmes claimed a bronze medal in the 400m.

This will be Peoples first time as a member of Team USA. After turning 24 this May, Peoples will be hoping her first name and age coincide with her competing in the Paris 24 Olympic Games this summer.

World Relays 2024 | Schedule (CT)

Saturday | May 4

Sunday | May 5

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World Relays in Bahamas includes Bailey, Peoples, and Holmes - Razorbacks Arkansas

The Netherlands is bringing three runners from their World champion teams in Budapest and Glasgow to The Bahamas, with Bol, Lieke Klaver and Cathelijn Peeters. The fourth leg is a bit of a question mark for the Dutch team heading into this weekend, as neither Evaline Saalberg (Budapest) nor Lisanne de Witte (Glasgow) will be making the trip, and theres a steep drop off in times behind those two. But that may not matter in the long run, because a bigger deficit going into the anchor leg just means there's more magic for Femke Bol to make. The Dutch superstar has only raced once outdoors so far this season in a glorified showcase last weekend in the nearby island nation of Curaao, so this will basically be her true season debut as she gears up to try and win her first Olympic title later this summer.

The Jamaican team will only have one runner from their silver medal winning squad from Budapest in Nassau, but they should still be strong contenders to get on the podium. Janieve Russell, Charokee Young, Roneisha McGregor and Junelle Bromfield have all run comfortably under 51 seconds in their careers. Great Britain, bronze medallists in Glasgow, Budapest, Eugene in 2022, and the 2021 World Relays, will have their most consistent trio of Laviai Nielsen, Ama Pipi and Nicole Yeargin running this weekend.

Poland, the reigning World Relays silver medallist, and Ireland are two teams that have the potential to get into medal conversation, but both of their hopes hinge on a remarkable showing from their strongest runners. For Poland thats the silver medallist in the 400m from Budapest, Natalia Kaczmarek, and for Ireland thats national record holder Rhasidat Adeleke. Adeleke has been working on her speed, with a big win in the 100m last weekend over training partners Dina Asher-Smith and Julien Alfred, but shes yet to run an open 400m this season.

Mixed 4x400m: Return of Bahamass Biggest Stars

The favorite for the first final of the meet has to be the host nation. The Bahamian squad has maybe the best 1-2 punch out of any nation in any event this weekend, with the 6th-fastest man all-time over 400m Steven Gardiner and the 6th-fastest woman all-time over 400m Shaunae Miller-Uibo. Both have had strong starts to their Olympic title defense campaigns after missing some time over the last few seasons and look poised to take gold on their home turf, just like they did in 2017.

Always a strong contender in this event, the team from the Dominican Republic is led by reigning 400m World champion Marileidy Paulino. After not getting the chance to defend their World title from Eugene last August, the Dominicans will be hungry to upset their Caribbean rivals. The strongest male leg on the team will most likely be 200m national record holder Alexander Ogando.

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What To Watch At The 2024 World Relays In Nassau, Bahamas - CITIUS Mag - Citius Mag

The US womens 4x400m squad will be hoping that a return to Nassau for the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 will be a lucky omen.

For the first three editions of this competition all of which were held in the Bahamian capital USA won the womens 4x400m. But ever since the event has moved out of the Caribbean, the womens 4x400m title has been won by other nations.

In 2021 a year in which USA and Jamaica opted not to send a team Cuba was the surprising victor, finishing just ahead of Poland and Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

Normal order was restored soon after, with USA winning Olympic gold later that year and then winning world gold in 2022. But its the Netherlands who head to Nassau as the reigning world championships indoors and out, following their victories in Budapest in 2023 and Glasgow in 2024.

Granted, their World Championships victory last year came after the USA was disqualified for a baton exchange that occurred outside the zone. But the Dutch squad triumphed again at this years World Championships, beating the USA fair and square.

Femke Bol and Lieke Klaver, the world indoor 400m gold and silver medallists respectively, always pack a powerful punch for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Alexis Holmes who anchored the USA to mixed 4x400m victory in Budapest just moments after Bol fell is the standout performer on the USA womens 4x400m team.

Jamaica is the only team to have reached the podium in this event at the past three outdoor global championships, so they cannot be overlooked. Great Britain & Northern Ireland, meanwhile, have earned three global bronze medals in the past two years, so will also be keen to challenge again.

World 400m silver medallist Natalia Kaczmarek and 2018 European champion Justyna Swiety-Ersetic feature on Polands team, but both have also been selected for the mixed event.

Canada has been quietly consistent in recent years, placing fourth at the past three global championships. Although theyve missed out on medals, they consistently outperform their pre-event form on paper.

Belgium has been creeping ever closer to a global championships podium finish, placing seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, sixth at the 2022 World Championships, fifth at the 2023 edition, and fourth at the recent World Indoor Championships.

Other teams to look out for include African Games champions Nigeria, France and India.

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

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WRE Bahamas 24 preview: Netherlands and USA seek more 4x400m success | News | Bahamas 24 - World Athletics

In a dramatic turn of events involving the criminal case that includes Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, it has been announced that Salame has accepted to give up his Bahamas property, which is valued at $5.9 million, as part of his plea agreement. This is a significant development in the case since it will allow Salame to avoid further prosecution. As an alternative to being compelled to make restitution in the sum of $5.6 million in cash, this decision was reached as an option.

A breakdown of the terms of the agreement to plead guilty

Ryan Salame made a guilty plea before the court at the beginning of September 2023 in response to the allegations that were brought about by the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange.

In order for Salame to comply with the conditions of the plea agreement, he was required to make reparation payments to creditors that totaled $5.6 million.

After reaching an agreement with FTX Digital Markets Ltd., Salame has consented to hand up his Bahamas house, which is estimated to be worth $5.9 million. This is in place of making a monetary payment to cover the amount of the repair.

In order for Salame to accomplish his obligation to perform the restitution requirement, the transfer of the property is one of the most crucial components that must be completed.

The plea deal was reached

Because of the criminal case, Salame is able to fulfil a significant portion of his financial commitment by giving up his home in the Bahamas. This is achieved by giving up his house in the Bahamas.

The transfer of the property to FTX Digital Markets Ltd. ulfils the purpose of providing a kind of restitution to the creditors who are involved in the case.

This plea agreement sheds light on the seriousness of the claims that have been presented against Salame as well as the legal implications that he will have to face as a result of the actions that he has taken.

. . .

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Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Agrees to Forfeit $5.9 Million Bahamas House in Plea Agreement - Blockchain.News

Track and field stars from around the world have been setting the tracks on fire with hopes of making it to the Paris Olympics through the Bahamas Relays. While the Team USA qualified for the big event later this year in the mens 4x100m relays only moments ago, their comrades in the 4x400m suffered a major blow because of a seemingly harmless action before the start of the race.

A recent post on X has brought the news to the limelight as fans have been eagerly waiting to keep up with the results of the event. USA have been disqualified in the mens 4x400m, the post announced. The decision was made official after USA 4x400m team member Champion Allison tried to exchange his position with one of his competitors without consulting the event officials.

With the Paris Olympics over the horizon, this incident underscores the importance of thorough comprehension of rules. Right or wrong, it looked like Champion Allison decided to ignore the officials and move positions at the exchange zone. Owens disappointed tone elaborated further, reflecting the sentiments of many shattered fans hopeful for US dominance at the relays.

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In the wake of the USAs setback, Japan emerged victorious in the 4400 relay, followed by Germany and Trinidad and Tobago, who came in second and third, respectively. As Team USA navigates the aftermath of the disqualification in heats, the focus now shifts to their performance in the finals, which will decide the fate of Team USAs participation in the Paris Olympics. Todays incident has raised questions about their journey to secure a spot in the mens 4x400m relay event. Will they make it to the Olympics after the final event?

However, the nation faired considerably better in other events at the tournament.

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While Allison may not be the national sensation right now, there have been plenty at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau to compensate for his rookie mistake. The team of Matthew Boling, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Ryan Willie, and Kendall Ellis won Heat 2 of the mixed 4x400m relay event, while Noah Lyles, accompanied by Courtney Lindsey, Kenneth Bednarek, and Kyree King, secured their berth for Paris by winning Heat 1 of mens 4x100m relay (39.49). And the jubilations dont end just there.

Tamari Davis and Gabby Thomas led the charge as Team USA also won the womens 4x100m relay Heat 1, while the team comprised of Quanera Hayes, Bailey Lear, NaAsha Robinson, and Alexis Holmes punched its ticket to Paris after winning the womens 4x400m relay. As the race to Paris gains more momentum, tell us which team you think has the best chance of maintaining its form from the Bahamas Relays and go on to win a gold at the Olympics in the comment section below.

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USA's Paris Olympics Tickets Almost Snatched Away From Men's 4x400m Team After Suffering DQ at Bahamas Relays - EssentiallySports