London , England — Veteran Novlene Williams-Mills was the quickest of the four Jamaican women to book their spots in the semi-finals of the 400m here at the Olympic Stadium yesterday.

Williams-Mills (51.00), Chrisann Gordon (51.14), Shericka Jackson (51.26), and Stephenie-Ann McPherson (51.27) all qualified fairly comfortably.

The big guns Allyson Felix of the US, the defending champion and Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas ridiculously jogged to win their heats in 52.44secs and 50.97secs, respectively.

Williams-Mills, 35, was third in Heat Four and hardly came out of a canter in 51.00 in a race won by 19-year-old Salwa Eid Nasser of Bahrain in a national record of 50.57secs. Nasser, who won the World Junior U-18 title in 2015, had the better of American Phyliss Francis, who was second in 50.94secs.

Williams-Mills, the athletics poster girl in the fight against cancer, was satisfied with her performance in cold conditions.

“It was ok. It is early, but I just wanted to come out and qualify for the next round, and I did that. So we will see what happens in the semi-finals tomorrow,” said Williams-Mills.

“I just want to keep it together for the rest of the championship and don’t think too much of the past five years,” she added.

Jamaica’s Olympic 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson was also easy in qualifying and was second in Heat Three in 51.26secs. The race was won by Kabange Mupopo of Zambia in a season’s best of 51.09secs.

Jamaica’s 2014 Commonwealth Games champion, McPherson, also advanced fairly easily despite finishing second in Heat Two in 51.27secs. Olympic champion Miller-Uibo would have stopped had she tried to go any slower and won with consummate ease.

National Collegiate Athletic Association 400m champion Chrisann Gordon ran a relaxed race from lane four and won in 51.14secs ahead of 2011 world champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana who was second in 51.37secs, with Margaret Bamgbose of Nigeria third in 51.57secs.

Gordon has looked rejuvenated this season and was representing Jamaica in a flat 400m for the first time at the senior level.

“Today I wanted to get into the top three, preferably to win so I can get a good lane tomorrow and I did just that now. I will talk with my coach about what we will do tomorrow,” said Gordon.

“I still can’t believe how well I am performing, because I had injuries over the years and this year I just try to trust myself and trust my coach and do what she says I should do and everything is working out very well for me, and I am really happy with where I am right now,” said Gordon.