BEIJING, China — Jamaica are on course to get two more medals and equal their best haul of 13 achieved at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Jamaica are currently on 11 medals and are expected to pick up two more when they contest the respective finals of the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays today.

The small island has already equalled its best gold medal count of six, but the teams will have to run out of their skins to win either of the mile relays. However, the possibility of getting two medals are very much on the cards.

The female quartet of Anastasia Le-Roy, Shericka Jackson, Chris-Ann Gordon and Christine Day finished second to Nigeria in semi-final one in 3:23.62 minutes. The Nigerians won in 3:23.27, while Russia were third with a time of 3:23.75.

Jamaica will enter the final with the third-best time with the Americans who won semi-final two, setting the pace with 3:23.05. Veteran Novlene Williams-Mills and Stephenie Ann McPherson are expected to replace Le-Roy and Gordon, and should be right there at the death.

The Americans, who look hard to beat, should also bring in 400m champion Allyson Felix. Their semi-final winning quartet comprised Phyliss Francis, Jessica Beard, Sanya Richards-Ross, and Francena McCorory.

It should be a straight fight between the USA, Jamaica and Russia for the gold medal, with the Americans, who have won four of the last six titles, starting favourites. But this is the best chance Jamaica will have after they had four runners in the individual 400m final.

Meanwhile, with Jamaica’s new 400m record holder Rusheen McDonald expected to be a part of the men’s final, the prospect of landing a medal will be greater. Jamaica had finished third in their semi-final in 2:58.69. The Americans won in 2:58.13 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago with 2:58.67.

As usual, the USA, who have the world-leading time, will start favourites. Perennial challengers, the Bahamas, were disqualified in the heat, further enhancing Jamaica’s chance of medalling.

Earlier, there was a scare when anchorman Javon Francis was collided into. He hurt his shoulder and was stretchered off; however, he has been passed fit to compete and will give Jamaica a boost.

The team of Pete Matthews, Ricardo Chambers, McDonald and Francis has promised much and could be the biggest danger to the Americans.

— Howard Walker