Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are into the men’s mile relay final after securing qualifying spots on Friday (6 Aug) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Trinidad & Tobago, the 2017 world champions, took the third automatic qualifying spot in the first semi-final. The quartet of Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Dwight ST Hillaire took them across the line in 2:58.60.
The USA won the heat in a world-leading 2:57.77 – the fastest ever heat/semi time at major championships. And they’ve still got the likes of Rai Benjamin, Michael Cherry and Michael Norman to draft in for the final.
Behind them, Botswana broke the African record with 2:58.33.
Outside of the top three automatic qualifying spots, there were national records for Italy (2:58.91) and Netherlands (2:59.06). The latter mark equalled the fastest time for a fifth-place finish.
In the second semi-final, Jamaica ended behind Poland in 2:58.55.
The Jamaican team of Demish Gaye, Jaheel Hyde, Karayme Bartley and Nathon Allen finished in 2:59.29, just ahead of Belgium, 2:59.37.
Jamaica will have 400m finalist Christopher Taylor to come in; as to who will make way, thats not yet known.
Belgium’s anchor Jonathan Borlee appeared to pick up a slight injury just as he crossed the finish line.
