ATHENS, Ga. — Former Bulldog Lynna Irby-Jackson helped win a gold medal for Team USA in the mixed 4×400-meter relay to highlight the opening day of the the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

A total of 22 former and current Georgia team members and coaches are representing the Red and Black at the world’s biggest track and field meet of 2025.  UGA Director of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert is the head coach of the Team USA women’s team so collected her first gold alongside Irby-Jackson.

Irby-Jackson, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., who won the NCAA outdoor 400m title for Georgia, ran the second leg of the relay and was joined by Bryce Deadmon, Jenoah McKiver and Alexis Holmes for a 3:08.80.  This is the sole relay that includes both men and women that debuted at the 2019 World Championships.

In addition, current Bulldog Dejanea Oakley was the second leg of Jamaica’s relay that finished eighth in the first round with a 3:13.96.

Aaliyah Butler (women’s 400m, 4x400m relay, U.S.), Oakley (women’s 400m, mixed 4x400m relay, Jamaica), Kelsie Murrell-Ross (women’s shot put, Grenada), Manuela Rotundo (women’s javelin, Uruguay), Maisvorewa Vimbayi (women’s 400m, Zimbabwe), Shaquena Foote (women’s 4x400m relay, Jamaica), Michelle Smith (women’s 400m hurdles, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) and Maurice Gleaton (men’s 4x100m relay, U.S.) are the current Georgia team members set to compete at the World Championships along with volunteer assistant Janek Oiglane (decathlon, Estonia).

The former Bulldogs include: Christopher Morales Williams (men’s 400m, Canada), Denzel Comenentia (men’s hammer throw, Netherlands), Marc Minichello (men’s javelin, U.S.), Kyle Garland (decathlon, U.S.), Karel Tilga (decathlon, Estonia), Johannes Erm (decathlon, Estonia), Irby-Jackson (women’s 400m, mixed 4x400m relay, 4x400m relay, U.S.), Elena Kulichenko (women’s high jump, Cyprus), Ana da Silva (women’s shot put, Brazil), Stephanie Ratcliffe (women’s hammer throw, Australia), Lianna Davidson (women’s javelin, Australia) and Marie-Therese Obst (women’s javelin, Norway).

In addition, Smith Gilbert, who was the 2025 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coach of the Year, is the head coach for Team USA’s women. 

How To Watch Worlds: https://gado.gs/dfu

Here is a breakdown of the rest of the schedule for the current and former Bulldogs competing in Tokyo:

 Sept. 14 

Stephanie Ratcliffe, women’s hammer qualification (9/13 8 p.m., 9:45 p.m.)

Charles Grethen, men’s 1500m heats (9/13 8:35 p.m.)

Christopher Morales Williams , men’s 400m heats (5:35 a.m.)

Aaliyah Butler, Dejanea Oakley, Maisvorewa Vimbayi, Lynna Irby-Jackson, women’s 400m heats (6:25 a.m.)

Sept. 15

Denzel Comenentia, men’s hammer qualification (9/14 8 p.m., 9:45 p.m.)

Michelle Smith, women’s 400m hurdle heats (9/14 10:20 p.m.)

Stephanie Ratcliffe, women’s hammer final (8 a.m.)

Charles Grethen, men’s 1500m semifinal (8:30 a.m.)

Sept. 16

Denzel Comenentia, men’s hammer final (8 a.m.)

Aaliyah Butler, Dejanea Oakley, Maisvorewa Vimbayi, Lynna Irby-Jackson, women’s 400m semifinal (8:05 a.m.)

Christopher Morales Williams , men’s 400m semifinal (8:35 a.m.)

Sept. 17

Marc Minichello, men’s javelin qualification (6:10 a.m., 7:45 a.m.)

Michelle Smith, women’s 400m hurdle semifinal (8 a.m.)

Charles Grethen, men’s 1500m final (9:20 a.m.)

Sept. 18

Elena Kulichenko, women’s high jump qualification (6:15 a.m.)

Marc Minichello, men’s javelin final (6:23 a.m.)

Christopher Morales Williams , men’s 400m final (9:10 a.m.)

Aaliyah Butler, Dejanea Oakley, Maisvorewa Vimbayi, Lynna Irby-Jackson, women’s 400m final (9:24 a.m.)

Sept. 19

Manuela Rotundo, Lianna Davidson, Marie-Therese Obst, women’s javelin qualification (6:30 a.m., 8 a.m.)

Michelle Smith, women’s 400m hurdle final (8:27 a.m.)

Sept. 20

Kyle Garland, Johannes Erm, Karel Tilga, decathlon: 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m (starting first five events at 9/19 8:25 p.m.)

Kelsie Murrell-Ross, women’s shot put qualification (9/19 9 p.m.)

Kelsie Murrell-Ross, women’s shot put final (6:54 a.m.)

Shaquena Foote, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Aaliyah Butler, women’s 4x400m relay heats (7 a.m.)

Maurice Gleaton, men’s 4x100m relay heats (7:25 a.m.)

Manuela Rotundo, Lianna Davidson, Marie-Therese Obst, women’s javelin final (8:05 a.m.)

Sept. 21

Kyle Garland, Johannes Erm, Karel Tilga, decathlon: 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m (starting final five events at 9/20 8:05 p.m.)

Elena Kulichenko, women’s high jump (6:30 a.m.)

Shaquena Foote, Lynna Irby Jackson, Aaliyah Butler, women’s 4x400m relay final (7:40 a.m.)

Maurice Gleaton, men’s 4x100m relay final (8:20 a.m.)

Where To Keep Up With The Dawgs: Results and recaps from the coming Worlds will be found at georgiadogs.com.  News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.