JAMAICA could increase its medal tally today as all four of the female quarter-milers will be hunting gold along with the two 400m hurdlers after advancing from their semi-finals yesterday.

Jamaica have slipped to third in the medal table with three medals — two gold and a bronze. Kenya are on top with four gold and a total of nine medals. Great Britain are second with three gold and three medals.

Shericka Jackson, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Christine Day and veteran Novlene Williams-Mills are down for the 400m final while Kaliese Spencer and Janieve Russell are into the 400m hurdles final.

The 400m final will pit the four Jamaicans against two Americans in Allyson Felix (49.89) and Phyliss Francis (50.50) plus Shaunae Miller (50.12) of the Bahamas and Christine Ohuruogu (50.16) of Great Britain.

An improved and dangerous-looking Jackson, who ran her personal best of 50.03 seconds, was second in her semi-final race to Felix with Williams-Mills third in a season’s best of 50.47 seconds. Jackson could be the fly in the ointment come the final.

“My coach Stephen Francis thinks this is my best event and I’m really happy I made it to the final. I am happy because I made the final and ran my personal best,” Jackson said.

Day was second in the semi-final clocking 50.82 seconds behind the tall Miller who eased home in 50.12 seconds with a lot in reserve. McPherson with 50.32 finished behind Ohuruogu in 50.16 seconds.

Meanwhile Diamond League champion Spencer and Janieve Russell are drawn in lanes seven and nine respectively and will play a major part of the 400m hurdles finals.

Spencer, despite looking a little rusty after coming back from a minor injury, is due to deliver while Russell who has a seasonal best of 54.78 has looked strong and seems to be improving all the time.

However, both will have to run out of their skin to deny Zizana Hejnova of the Czech Republic who has a season’s best of 53.76 seconds. American Cassandra Tate also looked good as did Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen with a 53.99 clocking.