Mitchell and Rubie headline world relays team

Australia’s women’s 4x400m relay team will duel for automatic qualification to the London 2017 IAAF World Championships at the 2017 IAAF World Relays in Nassau (BAH) on 22-23 April.

Starting alongside the best relay squads from across the globe, the green and gold contingent announced by Athletics Australia today also includes a men’s and women’s 4x800m relay team to bring the confirmed team size to 15.

To be led by national 400m champion Morgan Mitchell (Vic) and her Rio 2016 teammates, Caitlin Jones (Qld) and Anneliese Rubie (NSW), the women’s 4x400m relay team also includes Australian Athletics Championships silver medallist Olivia Tauro (NSW) and 200m specialist Ella Nelson (NSW).

Mitchell, Jones and Rubie delivered one of the highlights of the Olympic Games last year when they progressed to the final of the women’s 4x400m relay on time, while Tauro makes her return to an Australian squad for the first time since the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. It is Nelson’s maiden start with the women’s 4x400m relay.

The men’s 4x800m relay team boasts Luke Mathews (Vic), Joshua Ralph (NSW), James Gurr (NSW), Mason Cohen (NSW) and Jordan Williamsz (Vic), with the women’s team featuring Lora Storey (NSW), Zoe Buckman (Vic), Heidi See (NSW), Abbey de la Motte (Vic) and Alicia Kerr (NSW).

Team Australia will also include a men’s 4x100m relay team if they are successfully added to entry lists via the IAAF Roll-Down Process. They will compete at the Mt Sac Relays in Torrance (USA) in the lead-up to the IAAF World Relays to ensure their best possible chance for inclusion, with competition at this event made possible by the Gold Coast GOLD Relay Program supported by Commonwealth Games Australia.

The men’s 4x400m relay team has not recorded a performance within the IAAF Qualifying Period and are ineligible for inclusion via the IAAF Roll-Down Process. They have not been selected.

The women’s 4x100m relay team has a number of athletes who did not nominate for consideration or are currently recovering from injury. They have a very low likelihood of receiving a start via the IAAF Roll-Down Process due to their current world ranking and therefore have not been selected.

The IAAF World Relays will be held on 22-23 April 2017 at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau (BAH). It is the third consecutive time that the event have been hosted in the Caribbean nation.

In 2015, Australia won three bronze medals at the IAAF World Relays, crossing the line third in the men’s and women’s 4x800m relay and men’s distance medley relay teams on the podium.

For more information on the IAAF World Relays, please click here.

IAAF World Relays 22-23 April, 2017 Nassau (BAH)

M 4x100m Relay*: Nicholas Andrews (NSW), Aaron Bresland (WA), Rohan Browning (NSW), Tom Gamble (Qld)^, Alex Hartmann (Qld), Trae Williams (Qld)

W 4x400m Relay: Caitlin Jones (Qld), Morgan Mitchell (Vic), Ella Nelson (NSW), Anneliese Rubie (NSW), Olivia Tauro (NSW)

M 4x800m Relay: Mason Cohen (NSW), James Gurr (NSW), Luke Mathews (Vic), Josh Ralph (NSW), Jordan Williamsz (Vic)

W 4x800m Relay: Zoe Buckman (Vic), Abbey de la Motte (Tas), Alicia Keir (NSW), Heidi See (NSW), Lora Storey (NSW)

*pending IAAF Roll-Down selection

^subject to fitness