Jamaican men miss out on 4x400m medal

Jamaica's hopes of gaining a medal in the men's 4x400m relay were washed away in monsoon-like conditions at Japan's National Stadium in Tokyo.

The Island went with nearly the same team, which qualified as fastest non-automatic progressors but with Rusheen McDonald replacing Bovel McPherson.

Last-leg hero in the heats Delano Kennedy replaced McPherson on the opening leg with individual 400m finalist McDonald going last.

Amazingly, Jamaica have never won this event yet taken silver on no fewer than eight occasions, while grabbing bronze three times.

As torrential rain hammered down on the track, Kennedy led off but at the long-stagger break, at 500m, Jevaughn Powell found himself only sixth and already falling away from the medal pace.

Dennis and McDonald also battled hard but could make little impression as the Caribbean quartet could only finish seventh from nine in 3:03.46.

The Uited States, who have dominated the competition since it was instigated in Helsinki in 1983 and have won at the last three editions, were leading but were shocked by a charging Botswana down the final home straight with the African nation snatching their first-ever victory in 2:57.76.

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