London , England — National champion Nathon Allen and Demish Gaye ran superb personal bests to propel two Jamaicans to the final of the 400m for the first time in the nation’s history.

In his semi-final of the event at the 16th edition of the World Championships inside the Olympic Stadium yesterday, the 22-year-old Allen chopped .33 seconds off his previous personal best of 44.52 seconds and lowered it to 44.19 seconds, which is just outside Rusheen McDonald’s national record of 43.93 seconds set at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Allen, who had to be taken to the medical centre suffering from dehydration following his first-round effort, once again had to he helped to the medical centre after his splendid run.

Allen turned the tables on his National Collegiate Athletic Association conqueror, American Fred Kerley, but had to settle for second behind the ever-improving Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas, who set a new national record of 43.89 seconds, which was the fastest of the three semi-finals. Kerley, who has a personal record of 43.70 seconds, was third in 44.51 seconds, and qualified as one of the fastest losers.

Kevin Borlee of Belgium was fourth in 45.10 seconds, with American Wilbert London III in fifth with 45.12 seconds. The 32-year-old Dwayne Cowan of Great Britain, who said he took up athletics at age 28 after seeing Usain Bolt at the 2012 London Olympics, was eighth in 45.96 seconds.

Then Demish Gaye, another late bloomer who, at 24 years, started athletics just over two years ago, also lowered his personal best from 44.64 to 44.55 seconds for second place.

Isaac Makwala of Botswana eased home in 44.30 seconds, with a lot in the tank, while American Gil Roberts was third. Jamal Walton of the Cayman Islands was fourth in 45.16.

Gaye, who said he ran a very calculated race with the instruction of his coach Maurice Wilson, was ecstatic about his personal best.

“I am feeling great, I am feeling very great,” said Gaye. “The plan was just to get out and stay close to the opponents.”

Meanwhile, World Record Holder Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa also won his semi-final with minimum fuss in 44.22 seconds, ahead of Baboloki Thebe of Botswana in 44.33 seconds. Qatar’s Abdalehah Haroun was third in a season’s best of 44.64 seconds.Veteran American Lashawn Merritt struggled into seventh in 45.52 seconds.

Jamaica’s Bertland Cameron won the first 400m at the Helsinki World Championships in 45.05 seconds, and the closest Jamaica came after that was with Greg Haughton, who finished third twice in 1995 and 2001. Michael Blackwood was also third in 2003.

The last time Jamaica had a runner in the 400m final was in 2011 when Jermaine Gonzalez finished fourth in 44.99 seconds. The final is set for 3:50 pm Jamaican time tomorrow evening.

— Howard Walker