LIMA, Peru – A strong Jamaican team led qualifying for the women’s 4x100m relay final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, after running 43.81 seconds in the first round on Friday.

The team, anchored by women’s 100m gold medallist Alana Reid, cruised to an easy win, beating Puerto Rico who ran a national Under-20 record 45.28 seconds and Italy who ran 45.55 seconds.

Reid, who spoke on behalf of the team, said they were satisfied with the effort.

“I just did enough to let my team qualify for the finals. I mean, we came out here and we gave up our best. We did enough just to qualify for tomorrow’s final,” she said.

Having already won a medal, Reid said she was motivated to assist her teammates in reaching the podium as well.

“I know that we’ll come out here and give up our best. I know that each person wants to go home with a medal and I already have one but it’s just for me to come out here and do my best, so I can let the girls feel the same way how I feel,” she said.

-Paul A Reid