The Jamaica men’s 4x100m relay team was the only one of five teams that qualified for the Paris Olympics after finishing second in the first-round heat during the World Athletics Relays at the Thomas A Robinson stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, on Saturday.

The team edged Australia by the thinnest of margins, both countries credited with a time of 38.50 seconds behind Canada (38.11). But Jamaica missed out in other events, finishing third in their heat in the mixed 4x400m and both men’s and women’s 4x400m relays on what was a disappointing day of competition. The women’s 4x100m runners placed fifth in their heat.

According to the rules of the competition, 14 of the 16 spots in the five relays at this summer’s Olympic Games will be decided over the two days of the World Relays.

Eight spots were decided on Saturday’s opening day, with the top two finishers from each of the four first-round heats automatically qualifying for the Olympics. Another six will make the cut on Sunday’s second round of qualifying and finals.

The bright spot for the Jamaicans on the opening day came via a strong anchor leg from Sandrey Davison which saw Jamaica clip Australia for the second spot in the men’s 4x100m relay. It gave Jamaica an automatic qualifying spot and a place in Sunday’s final.

Davison had anchored a Jamaican men’s 4x100m team to a win at the Penn Relays last week, the only relay win from three starts by a Jamaican team in Philadelphia.

Bryan Levell, Kadrian Goldson and Ryiem Forde were also part of the team. Forde is the only member of the squad from last year’s bronze medal winning quartet at the World Championships in Hungary.

Jamaica will have a second chance to qualify in the mixed 4x400m relays after finishing third in their first-round heat in 3:14.83 minutes, the 11th best time overall.

Intermediate hurdler Roshawn Clarke gave the Jamaicans a solid start, passing the baton to Leah Anderson who handed over to Rusheen McDonald in third place. Janieve Russell battled a tough set of anchor leg runners to finish third.

A powerful Netherlands team that included Lieke Klaver and Femke Bol won in 3:12.16, ahead of the Dominican Republic team (3:14.39) that saw world champion Marileidy Paulino split 48.93.

The Jamaica women’s 4x400m relay team of Charokee Young, Ashley Williams, Junelle Bromfield and Roneisha McGregor ran 3:29.03, behind Poland (3:27.11) and France (3:28.06).

The Jamaican men’s 4x00m team was second midway through the anchor leg run by Demish Gaye but were overhauled by Nigeria for the second spot. Both finished behind Belgium.

Malik James-King, Zandrion Barnes and Assinie Wilson ran the first three legs on the team that clocked 3:02.46.

The Jamaica women’s 4x100m team that was affected by less than stellar baton changes were a disappointing fifth in their heat in 43.33, the 13th overall. The team comprised Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Alana Reid and Remona Burchell.

Poland won the heat with 42.81 and Canada were second with 42.98 to get the automatic qualifying spots.