South Africa’s 4x400 surge in Guangzhou signals a new relay era — and raises the stakes for Botswana and the U.S.

South Africa left the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou with a statement win in the men’s 4x400m and a national record that underlined their growing depth in the one-lap ranks. With Botswana pushing hard and the United States still dangerous but inconsistent across relays, the road to the next global championships suddenly looks far more open — and far more tactical.