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Jamaica, Italy and Canada reached the mixed 4x100 metres relay final in the event's global debut while the United States experienced mixed fortunes on a dramatic opening day at the World Athletics Relays on Saturday.
Victory in 41.15 seconds in the first heat amid challenging conditions in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou following a spell of rain, earned the Italians a place in the medal round to be held on Sunday.
They will be joined by France, who finished second in 41.28 seconds, while the U.S. saw their hopes of advancing fade when Jada Mowatt and Kendal Williams botched their baton exchange during the second changeover.
Jamaica's mixed sprint quartet clocked 41.04 seconds to edge out Britain by a hundredth of a second in the next heat and they could deploy three-times Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and former world champion Yohan Blake in the final.
Canada crossed the line in a scorching 40.90 seconds to second-placed Australia's 41.15 seconds in the third heat to send out a warning to their rivals.
