Torrie Lewis anchors Australia to Olympic relay spot amid photo finish

The former Newcastle schoolgirl and Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club member, was adjudged to have found the line 0.003 seconds ahead of closest rivals Ivory Coast in heat three of the women's 4x100 metres. Spain were also in the mix.

However, Lewis alongside her sprint teammates Ebony Lane, Bree Masters and Ella Connolly faced a nervous post-race wait with results pending.

Germany were clear winners but the top two automatically booked tickets to the Games in Paris later this year, as well as progressing to Monday's decider in the Caribbean.

Following closer inspection Australia eventually prevailed, also setting a new national record with 42.83s.

Ivory Coast (42.83s) clocked the same preliminary time, but based on a more specific breakdown finished third.

The margin between the sides was just three thousandths of a second.

Spain (42.85s) was relegated to fourth.

Lewis, 19 and now based in Brisbane, posted a split time of 10.26s. In almost the same clutch moment she lunged to catch Spain's last runner and stave off Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith.

It will be the first time a women's 4x100m relay team has represented Australia at the Olympics since a home Games in Sydney in 2000.

USA, France, Poland, Canada, Great Britain and Netherlands were the other nations to qualify via results in the Bahamas on Sunday.

A repecharge round takes place on Monday with six positions still available for Paris.

Whitebridge runner Jemma Pollard is part of the Australian women's 4x400m relay squad, also scheduled to race on Sunday (11:05am).