RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil —Jamaica is into the final of the women’s 4x400m here at the Rio Olympic Games.
Led off by Christine Day, who handed Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby with the perfect lead, it was then “catch me if you can.”
McLaughlin, on her first Olympic team, extended the lead and by this time, the chasing pack of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Italy and Germany were left to fight for the other two automatic spots.
Chrisann Gordon also ran extremely well on third leg and without losing any ground, the baton was placed in the safe hands of Novlene Williams-Mills.
Williams-Mills, who many will remember for her remarkable gold medal anchor leg run at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, took Jamaica across the line in 3:22.38.
McLaughlin-Whilby said: “Our aim was just to go out there and quality for the final and we did that.”
“Tomorrow we will send the best four to go out there to represent Jamaica,” continued McLaughlin-Whilby, who added “I was pretty excited, because I was dying to go out there on the track.”
Williams-Mills, said they are expecting the same result as in Beijing. “I expect the same results, we want to come back home with the gold medal,” said the 2007 World Championships 400m bronze medallist.
“We just have to come out and execute tomorrow,” she added if they want to be atop the podium.
Bahamas with Lanece Clarke, Anthonique Strachan, Carmiesha Cox and Christine Amertil, despite a national record run of 3:26.36, failed to secure a place in the medal round.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished second in 3:24.81 and Canada, third in 3:24.94 to take their place in the final.
United States with Courtney Okolo, Taylor Ellis-Watson, Francena McCorory and Phyllis Francis, won the first heat in a season best in 3:21.42.
Ukraine, 3:24.54 and Poland, 3:25.34 were second and third respectively.
Australia, 3:25.71 and Italy, 3:25.16 are the other teams that will contest the final on Saturday.
