It’s been a tough Tokyo Olympics for Team South Africa with a number of medal hopefuls falling by the wayside. Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Akani Simbine scrapes into 100 metre final on time
Akani Simbine missed out on the automatic qualifying spot but his time of 9.90 was good enough to see him through to the final.
It’s been a tough Tokyo Olympics for Team South Africa with a number of medal hopefuls falling by the wayside. Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Akani Simbine just scraped into the final of the men’s 100 metre sprint on his time after a fourth place finish in the semi-final.
Akani Simbine scrapes into 100 metre final on time
Simbine missed out on the automatic qualifying spot but due to the blistering pace of the third semi-final his time of 9.90 was good enough to see him through as one of the fastest losers.
China’s Su Bingtan ran an Asian record 9.83 to sensationally win the third semi-final with the fastest time of the semi-finals.
Agony for Gift Leotlela as he pulls up in 100 metre semi-final
Earlier there was agony for fellow South African sprinter Gift Leotlela, who suffered an untimely injury that dashed his hopes of reaching the final.
Leotlela kept pace with the front-runners until the final few metres when he pulled up before collapsing over the line, clutching his hamstring.
Nigeria’s Usheoritse Itsekiri had pulled up further back and neither he nor Leotlela will thank Great Britain’s Reece Prescod, who jumped the gun for the second race in a row, this time earning himself a disqualification.
The delay to the restart of the race is not ideal for athletes in dropping temperatures, and the tension of the occasion also taking its physical toll on their bodies.
Leotlela would be disappointed, but he has shown that he has the makings of a top sprinter.
Fred Kerley of the United States won the heat ahead of Canada’s Anton de Grasse, while former world champion and double Olympic silver medallist Yohan Blake ran a disappointing 10.14 and drops out.
Maswanganyi out as well
In the second heat Phatutshedzo “Shaun” Maswanganyi ran sixth as Zarnell Hughes dipped below 10s with a 9.98. Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke of Nigeria took the second automatic place in the final after a photo finish.
The final is scheduled to take place at 14:50 on Sunday 1 August.
Men’s 100 metre sprint final lineup
| – |  South Africa |
|---|---|
| – |  Italy |
| – |  Great Britain |
| – |  United States |
| – |  China |
| – | United States |
| – |  E. Adegoke Nigeria |
| – |  Canada |
