Olympics-Athletics-U.S. dominate women's 4x400m women's relay qualifiers

By Helen Reid

PARIS (Reuters) -The United States dominated the 4x400 metres women's relay qualifiers on Friday, while France also booked a place in the final thanks to Amandine Brossier sneaking past Belgium's Helena Ponette on the home straight.

The U.S have won every women's 4x400m relay since 1996 and look set to win their eighth straight title as the team brought it home in three minutes 21.44 seconds, more than three seconds ahead of Britain and the fastest time of the morning.

Jamaica also appeared in top form, winning their heat in 3:24.92 thanks to a standout last lap by Stephenie Ann McPherson that successfully shook off the Netherlands and Ireland.

Shamier Little gave the U.S. a strong lead in the second lap with a rapid 49.22 seconds, and Aaliyah Butler and Kaylyn Brown followed it up, ceding no ground to challengers Britain and Belgium.

"The word of the day for our group was 'poised' and I think we all did a very good job of executing that," said Little, who was part of the U.S. team that won silver in last week's mixed 4x400 relay.

In the last lap Britain's Lina Nielsen was in hot pursuit of Brown, with Belgium's Helena Ponette on her shoulder, but at the last moment Brossier sneaked past Ponette on the inside to take third place and automatic qualification.

"In the home straight I felt strong and I felt the crowd, I knew France were closing and I couldn't let them have it," Nielsen said after securing her team's spot in the final. Britain had the second best time of the morning with 3:24.72.

Belgium still progressed because after the first three in each heat go through the next two fastest overall qualify for the final on Saturday at 9:14 p.m. local time (1914 GMT).

Belgium's time was the fifth fastest of the morning.

In the second heat, Ireland were in the lead in the first lap but the Netherlands' Lieke Klaver delivered a blazing second lap to overtake Phil Healy.

Jamaica's Charokee Young powered ahead in the third lap and McPherson built on that lead, while the Netherlands' Lisanne de Witte and Ireland's Sharlene Mawdsley finished almost at the same time to secure second and third place respectively.

The Dutch will challenge the U.S. for their crown, having won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay last week.

Canada also booked a place in the final.

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Ken Ferris)