The Irish Men’s 4x400m Relay team qualified for the final of the event on Day Four of the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

The quartet of Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club), Adam Courtney (Ballymena and Antrim AC), Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) and Stephen Mannion (South Galway AC) clocked a sensational new national U20 record of 3:08.94 to place third in their heat.

Mannion had been part of the quartet that had held the previous record of 3:09.75, which was set at the European U20 Championships in Jerusalem last summer.

This afternoon’s time was good enough to advance as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers to tomorrow night’s final, with the Irish the fifth fastest of the nine teams who progressed.

Recent European U18 bronze medallist Kelly led out the team splitting 47.10 from the blocks. Courtney battled hard in the second leg before handing the baton to Doggett. Despite racing for the fourth time this week the Athenry athlete, who made his senior international debut in the Men’s 4x400m at the European Athletics Championships in Rome in June, kept his team in contention.

Mannion then had the task of anchoring the team home and did so in style with a lightning 46.57 leg, as he battled all the way to the line against his German counterpart.

Ireland have been drawn in lane three for the final, with the team selection to be confirmed tomorrow afternoon. The race will bring a thrilling five days of competition to a close.

Meanwhile, Fintan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC) and David Davitt (Clonliffe Harriers AC) both missed out on final places in the Men’s 400m Hurdles.

Racing in the second of three semi-finals Dewhirst crossed the line in fifth place in 51.65s, with Davitt just behind in sixth clocking 51.93s.

Results

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Heat 2/3 – 3:08.94 q NU20R (3^rd)
• Fintan Dewhirst – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF 2/3 – 51.65S (5^th – 11^th overall)
• David Davitt – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF 2/3 – 51.93s (6^th – 13^th overall)

Day Five – Schedule – local times in brackets

Afternoon Session

• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 00:45 (18:45)

• Results are HERE
• Live Stream is HERE