Friday, August 22, 2008 - 10:40 PM

Australia has narrowly qualified for final of the men's 4x400 metres relay, finishing fourth in its heat at the Beijing Olympics.

The team of Joel Milburn, Mark Ormrod, John Steffensen and Clinton Hill took the second-last spot in the final after securing one of the two fastest times outside the automatic qualifiers.

The quartet finished in a time of 3.00.68, the third fastest time by an Australian team, after surrendering third spot to a fast-finishing Belgian team in the final straight.

Milburn was the only change to the four runners who won a shock silver in the same event in Athens.

Steffensen ran despite pulling out of the individual event with a hamstring strain.