KINGSTON, Jamaica— JeVaughn Powell held on for third place in his heat of the men’s 400m at the Olympic Games and booked a spot into the semi-finals after running 45.12 seconds on Sunday’s fourth day at the Stade de France in Paris.

Powell came off the final turn in front but was caught and passed by Great Britain’s Charles Dobson who won with 44.96 seconds and Belgium’s Alexander Doom- 45.01 seconds.

Despite running 44.68 seconds, ninth best in the round, World Championships finalist Sean Bailey and national champion Deandre Watkin who ran 45.97 seconds, will have to run in the repechage round if they are to book a semi-final spot.

Bailey was fifth in a fast heat won by American Michael Norman in 44.10 seconds, beating Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards- 44.31 seconds while Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi ran a personal best 44.45 seconds to get the third automatic spot.

Watkins, who created an upset at the JAAA national championships when he ran a massive personal best 44.48 seconds to win, was never in contention on Sunday.

-Paul A Reid