TOKYO, Japan — National record holder Rusheen McDonald produced a courageous season’s best 44.04 seconds in the semi-finals of the men’s 400m— his best in two years— to qualify for the finals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

It was his second season’s best of the championships after he had run 44.38 seconds in the first round and his third fastest time ever, only slower than his personal best 43.93 seconds set in 2015 and 44.03 seconds set in 2023 in Hungary.

The World Indoor bronze medallist last year, came from well behind to take second behind a world-leading 43.61 seconds set by Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana.

Bovel McPherson and Delano Kennedy, who were in their first major global championships, failed to get past the semi-finals.

McPherson was sixth in his semi-final race with 44.99 seconds and Kennedy ran 44.97 seconds, tied with former Olympic Games and World Championships gold medallist Kirani James of Grenada.

— Paul Reid