The United States and Jamaica advanced to the Olympic final of the women’s 4x400-metre relay last night.

Both high-profile teams easily won their preliminary heats. With 400 bronze medalist DeeDee Trotter running the anchor leg after Keshia Baker, Francena McCorory and Diamond Dixon circled the track, the Americans finished in 3 minutes, 22.09 seconds.

Jamaicans Christine Day, Shereefa Lloyd, Shericka Williams and Rosemarie Whyte won the opening heat in 3:25.13.

Russia, Britain, Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic and Nigeria also qualified for tonight’s final.

The Americans have won the last four Olympic golds in the event. Sanya Richards-Ross, the gold medalist in the 400, is expected to join the US squad in the final.