US Win 4×400 Rerun; Kenya Misses Final as South Africa Fall Short in 4×100

Sunday 21st September 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

The United States won a special men’s 4×400 metres rerun on Sunday morning to claim the last place in the relay final. Kenya finished second in the two-team race and missed out on the championship final later today. South Africa then ran a solo rerun in the men’s 4×100 metres but failed to beat the qualifying time needed to advance. Officials scheduled all four relay finals for this evening, the closing session of the meet.

Organisers ordered the extra races after interference marred Saturday’s heats. The men’s 4×400 rerun featured only the U.S. and Kenya. Both teams had been blocked during baton exchanges in the heats and were granted a second chance. In the 4×100, South Africa received a solo rerun after obstruction in their heat. The call gave them a clear track and a stopwatch target. They did not meet it.

Kenya’s Second Chance Ends in Defeat

The U.S. clocked 2:58.58, their fastest time this season, to secure the ninth and final lane in tonight’s 4×400 final. Kenya posted 3:00.39 and finished outside qualification. The rerun rule allowed only a single lineup change, so coaches kept their cores intact and kept handoffs simple. The American quartet pressed from the gun, opened a gap on leg two, and held it to the tape. Kenya’s anchor could not close the margin in the final 100 metres.

Kenya’s staff argued that the rerun at least restored procedural fairness after Saturday’s interference. Athletes said the morning slot and the one-change rule added tactical limits, but they accepted the outcome. The country has a deep relay pool. Yet the loss removes a medal route that often rewards clean handoffs and even pacing. The focus now shifts to individual finals and to rebuilding the 4×400 for the next cycle.

South Africa Miss the 4×100 Cut

South Africa’s men returned to the track alone. Officials set a clear target: beat France’s 38.34 from the heats to enter the final. The team ran 38.64. A timing glitch at the finish caused brief confusion, but the official clock confirmed the miss. The result ends their campaign in the event. Coaches said the squad managed clean passes yet lacked the top-end speed needed to clear the mark.

Sprinters described the solo rerun as “odd but fair.” With no other teams on track, they had no visual cues on leg three and the anchor stretch. The staff stressed execution: calm on the marks, hits on the exchange zones, and a hard last 50 metres. South Africa have enjoyed progress in short relays in recent years. The exit will sting, but selectors said the pool remains competitive for regional meets and the next global season.

Finals Tonight: What to Watch

All relay finals are set for tonight’s closing session. The U.S. men rejoin the 4×400 field, which includes heat winners and continental powers. Coaches may make only limited changes under the meet rules, so depth and recovery will matter. Split analysis from Saturday showed strong third legs across the top teams. The morning rerun could add fatigue for the U.S., but they carry a season’s best into the final.

In the men’s 4×100, the field tightens without South Africa. Canada led the heats. Ghana reached the final with a national record. Traditional sprint giants stumbled in qualifying, which keeps the podium picture open. Baton security will define the medals. One slow or shaky pass can cost two tenths, which is often the gap from gold to fourth.

The women’s relays also close tonight. The U.S. women led qualifying in both events with the year’s best marks. Jamaica and the Netherlands advanced strongly in the 4×400. Several national squads signalled lineup tweaks for the final, within the rules, to balance speed with clean exchanges. The session will end the championships, with relay medals often shaping the table and television audience.

Athletes from East and Southern Africa will leave with mixed relay results. Kenya’s men lose a classic medal chance. South Africa miss a shot at the 4×100 final after a procedural rerun. Ghana’s men, meanwhile, stay in the picture after their record run. The region’s relay programs will mark tape, review exchange metrics, and set winter training blocks with these outcomes in mind.