Tenacious Kennedy puts Jamaica into 4x400 final

A tenacious last leg by Delano Kennedy was good enough to earn Jamaica a place in the final of the men's 4x400 metres at the World Athletics Championships as they were fourth in their heat in a 2:59.13.

Kennedy's effort was enough for the Caribbean nation to scrape through as one of the quickest non-automatic qualifiers.

Starting in lane two, directly inside hosts Japan, the Jamaican quartet were sixth when the long (500m) stagger unwound with Bovel McPherson handing to Jevaughn Powell.

Only Rusheen McDonald was missing from the individual 400-metre aspirants as Jesauna Dennis continued the attempt to make ground and the British quartet were briefly hauled in as Kennedy chased after a qualification spot.

South Africa and Botswana won the two heats, with Belgium, Britain, Qatar and the Netherlands taking the other automatic qualifying places. Portugal joined Jamaica as the other non-automatic qualifier.

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