Jamaica announces relay teams for World Athletics Championships 4x400m semifinals in Budapest

BUDAPEST (August 26) — As Day 8 of the 2023 World Athletics Championships unfolds, Jamaica has unveiled its line-up for both the women's and men's 4x400m relay semifinals. Opting for a strategic approach, the coaching team has rested a few athletes but has ensured that the selected squads are formidable contenders.

Men's 4x400m Relay Team

For the men, Jamaica's quartet comprises Rusheed McDonald, Jevaughn Powell, Zandrion Barnes, and D'Andre Anderson, who was part of the team that failed in the 4x400m mixed relay. They will represent the Caribbean nation from lane three in the second semifinal heat.

McDonald, boasting a season-best time of 44.03 seconds, is anticipated to set a robust pace for the team. Jamaica will be able to bring in two fresh legs for the final on Sunday.

Sean Bailey, fresh from his individual 400m final appearance, will return for the medal race, also with world champion Antonio Watson, who was also absent from the semifinals, receiving an additional day of rest.

• Read more: Day 8: How to watch the world track and field championships [Aug.26]
• Read more: 2023 World Athletics Championships: Men’s 4x100m relay splits, results [semifinals]

The Jamaican team enters with a season-best time of 3:02.44 and holds a national record of 2:56.75.

Joining Jamaica in the second men's 4x400m semifinal are teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany.

Meanwhile, the United States will compete in the other semifinal, facing Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Great Britain & NI, Japan, and Botswana.

Jamaica's Women's 4x400m Relay Team

On the women's front, Jamaica's relay team for the semifinals includes Cherokee Young, Nikisha Pryce, Shian Salmon, and Stacey-Ann Williams.

Having missed the mark in the 4x400m mixed relay a week prior, the Jamaican teams are poised for redemption, aiming to clinch spots in Sunday's medal races.

Candice McLeod, a finalist in the women's individual 400m, will sit out the semifinals. Jamaica will compete in the first semifinal against formidable teams from Nigeria, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Reigning world champions, the USA, are set to race in the second semifinal, alongside Great Britain & NI, Cuba, Italy, Ireland, and Botswana.

The men's 4x400m relay semifinals are scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. ET start, followed by the women's races at 1:55 p.m. ET.

For fans tuning in from the United States, live coverage will be available on CNBC and Peacock TV.

Here's the start list for the Men's and Women's 4x400m Relay Semifinals:

Men's 4x400m Relay Semifinal - Round 1

Heat 1 - 26 August 2023, 1:30

• Lane 1: BOTSWANA - National Record: 2:57.27, Season Best: 3:04.49
• Lane 2: JAPAN - National Record: 2:59.51, Season Best: 3:07.30
• Lane 3: GREAT BRITAIN & NI - National Record: 2:56.60, Season Best: 3:02.43
• Lane 4: INDIA - National Record: 3:00.25, Season Best: 3:01.80
• Lane 5: SPAIN - National Record: 3:00.54, Season Best: 3:05.68
• Lane 6: CZECH REPUBLIC - National Record: 3:01.63, Season Best: 3:12.89
• Lane 7: HUNGARY - National Record: 3:03.64, Season Best: 3:08.58
• Lane 8: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - National Record: 2:58.12, Season Best: 3:01.99
• Lane 9: UNITED STATES - National Record: 2:54.29, Season Best: 2:57.78

Heat 2 - 26 August 2023, 1:42

• Lane 2: NETHERLANDS - National Record: 2:57.18, Season Best: 3:06.59
• Lane 3: JAMAICA - National Record: 2:56.75, Season Best: 3:02.44
• Lane 4: BELGIUM - National Record: 2:57.88, Season Best: 3:05.83
• Lane 5: ITALY - National Record: 2:58.81, Season Best: 3:01.62
• Lane 6: FRANCE - National Record: 2:58.96, Season Best: 3:06.52
• Lane 7: SRI LANKA - National Record: 3:01.56, Season Best: 3:01.56
• Lane 8: KENYA - National Record: 2:59.63, Season Best: 3:02.02
• Lane 9: GERMANY - National Record: 2:59.86, Season Best: 3:06.24

Women's 4x400m Relay Semifinal - Round 1

Heat 1 - 26 August 2023, 1:55

• Lane 2: POLAND - National Record: 3:20.53, Season Best: 3:29.31
• Lane 3: NETHERLANDS - National Record: 3:20.87, Season Best: 3:25.66
• Lane 4: GERMANY - National Record: 3:15.92, Season Best: 3:34.02
• Lane 5: FRANCE - National Record: 3:22.34, Season Best: 3:29.60
• Lane 6: CANADA - National Record: 3:21.21, Season Best: 3:39.06
• Lane 7: NIGERIA - National Record: 3:21.04, Season Best: 3:27.60
• Lane 8: JAMAICA - National Record: 3:18.71, Season Best: 3:28.50
• Lane 9: SPAIN - National Record: 3:27.57, Season Best: 3:29.90

Heat 2 - 26 August 2023, 2:07

• Lane 1: CUBA - National Record: 3:23.21, Season Best: 3:26.08
• Lane 2: HUNGARY - National Record: 3:27.90, Season Best: 3:37.11
• Lane 3: GREAT BRITAIN & NI - National Record: 3:20.04, Season Best: 3:26.70
• Lane 4: ITALY - National Record: 3:25.16, Season Best: 3:28.61
• Lane 5: BELGIUM - National Record: 3:22.12
• Lane 6: IRELAND - National Record: 3:26.06, Season Best: 3:30.43
• Lane 7: UNITED STATES - National Record: 3:15.51, Season Best: 3:24.82
• Lane 8: BOTSWANA - National Record: 3:26.86, Season Best: 3:28.79
• Lane 9: SWITZERLAND - National Record: 3:25.90, Season Best: 3:30.62

Jamaica women's 4x400m relay team in action at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for World Athletics