#WorldChamps2023: Jamaicans qualify for men’s 400m semis
Jamaicans Antonio Watson, Sean Bailey and Zandrion Barnes have secured their spots in the semi-final round of the men’s 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday.
Watson, who clocked a massive lifetime best of 44.54 seconds at this year’s staging of the National Senior and Junior Championships, ran an impressive race to win heat five in 44.77. He crossed the line ahead of America’s Quincy Hall (44.86) and Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima (45.15).
National champion Sean Bailey had to work for his third place finish in heat four, running a time of 44.98 seconds in the process. Former world champion, Kirani James of Grenada won in 44.91 while Japan’s Fuga Sato claimed the runner up spot in a new personal best of 44.97.
Zandrion Barnes qualified for the next round after placing third in heat six in 45.05. Botswana’s Bayapa Ndori won in 44.72 while the second spot went to Belgium’s Alexander Doom in a personal best of 44.92.
The semi-final of the event is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00 pm Jamaica time.