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World Relays: Jamaica’s 4x400m teams fall short in first qualifying round
May 2, 2026
Posted 1 hour ago by
Jamaica’s 4x400m relay teams will hope to lift their performances on Sunday’s final day of the Debswana World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana after both finished fifth in their respective first round heats on Saturday.With just the top two teams in each heat gaining automatic qualifying spots, the men’s quartet of Assinie Wilson, Jevaughn Powell, Jeremy Bembridge and Reheem Hayles were well off the pace as they clocked 3:00.48 in their race which was won by Australia in a national record 2:57.30.
Botswana finished second in 2:57.52 to grab the second automatic spot.Earlier, the women’s team of Andrenette Knight, Leah Anderson, Janielle Josephs and Shiann Salmon never challenged for a top two place and faded to fifth, running 3:27.19. Spain won the heat in 3:24.44 while Czechia were second with 3:25.42 to take the two automatic qualifying spots.Both Jamaican teams will have another chance on Sunday to earn a spot to the World Athletics Ultimate Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary in September and the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027.-Paul A Reid
Jamaica Observer
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