BEIJING, China — Despite another dazzling anchor leg from Javon Francis, Jamaica just missed out on a bronze medal in the closing 4x400m relay race at the IAFF World Championships.

Francis, just as he did two years ago in Moscow, made a crippling move from fourth to first, but had no answer up the straight for the American LeShawn Merritt and Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, who both swept by easily.

Then what looked like bronze quickly disappeared as the far striding Martin Rooney of Great Britain pipped Francis on the line by four thousandth of a second. Both Jamaica and Britain were timed at 2:58.51 minutes.

Although extremely disappointed, Francis had the fastest split of 43.52 seconds of all the runners. Merritt was timed at 44.3 and once again led the USA to victory in a world-leading 2:57.82 minutes. The promising Cedenio brought T&T home in second in 2:58.20 with a split of 44.4.

Ricardo Chambers, who was drafted into Jamaica’s team late, could not conceal his disappointment saying the disappointment most hurt deeply.

“We come out here as a team and fought, but today we didn’t have enough to win,” he said.

Jamaica’s lead off runner Pete Matthews, who had a 45.3 leg as Chambers, said he wanted to make the podium but can’t complain because the guys gave it their all.

“I am thankful, but at the same time I am feeling kind of hurt and I am sure that they are feeling hurt as well,” said Matthews.

Nevertheless, Matthews is hoping his teammates stay healthy so they can have another crack at a medal come the 2016 Olympics. “It is possible that we can win the 4×4 at Rio. This time around we had a good team, but the competition was really hard out there,” he noted.

Meanwhile national record holder, Rusheen McDonald, whom had the second fastest split of 44.56, said it was a good day as they achieved a season best.

McDonald then pointed out that the long wait in the warm-up area affected his performance. “I feel like cramping in my calves so I had to drink a lot of water.”