EUGENE, Oregon — Olympic finalist Candice McLeod has declared “expect the unexpected” after she qualified along with five other Jamaicans for Wednesday’s semi-finals of the men’s and women’s 400m at the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday.

All six Jamaicans progressed to the second round from the first round, which was contested under windy conditions in the morning session.

Stephenie Ann McPherson, who led the women’s qualifying with a season’s best 50.15 seconds, and McLeod, both got automatic qualifying berths, while Charokee Young advanced on time in her first World Championships.

Olympic finalist Christopher Taylor and Nathon Allen also advanced automatically in the men’s section, while national champion Jevaughn Powell progressed on time.

A relaxed-looking McLeod said she went into the race knowing finishing in the top three would be enough. Despite being passed by Poland’s Anna Kielbasinska in the home stretch, she clocked 50.78 seconds.

“I stuck to my race plan, I knew top three was enough, so I was fine,” she said, adding her experience from last year’s Olympics helped her.

McPherson said she followed instructions and was satisfied with her performance.

“Each time I run a season’s best, even if I come last it is good, as it means that I am improving. I just went out and followed instructions, which was to get [to] the 300-m mark and just swing the arms and come home.”

Young, who will forego two college seasons after signing a professional contract last week, was fourth in her heat in 51.84 seconds.

She admitted the long season might be catching up with her.

“My body did not react the way I thought it would, and I think that it could be because I have had a long season,” said Young, who ran a personal best and then world-leading 49.87 seconds and was second in the NCAA Outdoors while competing for Texas A&M University.

The athlete, who said she will be based in College Station, Texas, noted she will have to rethink her approach for the semi-finals and “get as much recovery as possible”.

Taylor started slowly in the second heat but ran well over the last 200 metres to snatch second place with 45.68 seconds behind American Michael Norman (45.37).

Taylor said he just wanted to do enough to make it through to the next round.

“That is exactly what I did, I wanted to stay close to Norman.”

He had to be taken off the track at the National Championships three weeks ago. He explained that he had “a big muscle contract from my hamstrings up into my back”, but said he has recovered.

Taylor was under no illusions what was to come on Wednesday.

“The next round will speak for itself, I have to run faster as it will be tough.”

Allen was grateful for his performance, placing third in his race, running 45.61 seconds. He trailed Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori, who ran a personal best 44.87 and former world champion Kirani James of Grenada (45.29).

“I am feeling thankful, I made it through to the semi-finals, now I have to come back for the next round, run better and execute better and put myself in the best possible position,” Allen said.

He said his race was well executed.

“This was my first time in the new stadium and had two world-class athletes ahead of me, so nothing to complain about.”

Allen admitted the last few years have been tough for him, saying he had not been at his best since leaving college early to go professional and had switched to a new coach this year, which took some adjusting.

Powell, who was taken off the track to the medical centre after his race, was fourth in 46.62 seconds but still advanced.