EUGENE, Oregon — Jamaica failed to medal on Friday’ opening day of the 18th World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, placing fifth in the mixed 4x400m final.

The team of Demish Gaye, Tiffany James-Rose, Karayme Bartley and Stacey-Ann Williams, who replaced Roniesha McGregor from the preliminaries in the morning, ran 3:12.71 minutes, faster than the morning’s 3:13.95.

The Dominican Republic won the first track gold medal of the championships running 3:09.82, followed by the Netherlands in a national record 3:09.90 and the USA with 3:10.16.

Meanwhile, six Jamaicans advanced past the first round of their respective events, including all three men in the 100m; as too Danniel Thomas-Dodd, for the women’s shot put; first-timer Wayne Pinnock, in the men’s long jump finals; and Adelle Tracey, who qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 1,500m.

The women’s 100m — one of the marquee events of the championships — will start today with the three medal favourites Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce all expected to advance to the semi-finals on Sunday.

Ten other Jamaicans will make their first appearances today in four events — the women’s triple jump with Doha silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith; women’s high jump featuring Lamara Distin and Kimberly Williamson; 110mh first round involving Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, Rasheed Broadbell and Orlando Bennett, while the men’s 400m hurdles will have Kemar Mowatt, Jaheel Hyde and Shawn Rowe.

In the 100m heats, Oblique Seville ran 9.93 seconds (0.2m/s) to win his heat, Yohan Blake eased to 10.04 seconds in his heat (1.1m/s) and Ackeem Blake 10.15 seconds (-0.1m/s), all of whom made it through.

Seville looked easy in his race and said afterwards that he followed the instructions from Coach Glen Mills: “I did not expect to run as fast, but that time came as I executed my phases well,” he said.

Twenty-year-old Ackeem Blake admitted to some nerves at the start, but added that he too “executed the instructions that I was given”.

Yohan Blake declined to speak to the media on his way through the mixed zone.

Thomas-Dodd needed just one throw to book her place in the shot put final throwing 19.09m, comfortably over the automatic qualifying distance of 18.90m for fourth in her section.

Her teammate Lloydricia Cameron had a best of 17.65m for 18th overall and missed the top 12.

“I am very happy. My coach and I talked about trying to be patient and stay relaxed and let the technique work and make sure I am not putting myself under too much pressure by waiting on my third attempt to qualify. I am happy I qualified on my first attempt,” Thomas-Dodd said afterwards.

Pinnock was pleased with his performance, jumping 7.98m (0.7m/s) seventh best on the day. “This is a very big achievement for me, 21 years old and in my first World Championships. I am very happy,” he said,

Defending champion Tajay Gayle had three fouls and failed to make progress and said after that the decision for him to compete was “made by us, me and Coach, I wanted to jump”.

Adelle Tracey had a good start to her career for Jamaica, placing sixth in her 1,500m heat in 4:05.14 minutes and advanced to the semi-final. “I am pleased but it was a scrappy race,” she noted as she showed the media scratches on her legs.

Tracey, who will also run the 800m, said: “I am feeling good though, and just want to focus on each race as they come.”