Thomas and the US seek golden start at worlds via mixed relay

BUDAPEST : The mixed 4x400 metres relay has been a bit of a slow burn since joining the world athletics championships in 2019, with star athletes often giving it a miss, but Gabby Thomas said she, and the United States, were taking it very seriously in Budapest.

Thomas, whose 21.60 seconds 200 metres at the U.S. trials is the world lead this year, is among the favourites for that race but is also running the mixed 4x400, the women’s 4x400 and the women’s 4x100.

It is a gruelling-looking schedule with a risk that the relays could adversely affect her bid for a first global gold, having taken 200m bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – where she also won a sprint relay silver - but missed out on her home world championships in Eugene last year following an injury.

But the 26-year-old is keen to embrace every opportunity.

"I think it's a really important event because it's a challenge,” she told reporters on Friday a day before the mixed final concludes the opening day’s action on Saturday.

“It's a way to work with other team mates that typically you don't get a chance to work with.

"The nature of the event is really exciting because you have new goals - we're eyeing a world record - and that's a great new challenge. As athletes we are always looking to push ourselves and challenge ourselves,” she added.

PATCHY RECORD

The U.S. won the inaugural event in 2019 in a world record 3:09.34 that still stands but were third on home soil last year, having also only managed bronze on its Olympic debut in Tokyo.

Given the extraordinary depth of the U.S. in one-lap running, on the flat and over hurdles in men's and women's events, it is something of a patchy record.

“I think it’s a really special event because it gives a lot of countries the