South Africa’s 4x100m relay medal hopes were revived on Thursday when the county’s new-look quartet blazed their way through to tomorrow night’s final in the second quickest time of the day.
It was all change after Benji Richardson had to withdraw from the race because of a hamstring injury.
That meant schoolboy Bayanda Walaza was tasked with running the opening leg, handing over to Shaun Maswanganyi who then passed the baton to Bradley Nkoana to run the final bend and hand over to the on-fire Akani Simbine.
The three-time Olympic 100m finalist then ran the fastest leg of the day, storming past several rivals down the home straight and crossing the line second to the USA in 37.94 seconds to book automatic qualification through to the final.
That finish from Akani Simbine in the Men's 4x100m Relay heat 🔥🔥
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 8, 2024
He passed four other sprinters to take South Africa from sixth to second in a matter of seconds 🇿🇦💥#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/GMX5o4I5H5
The South Africans and Americans were the only teams to dip under 38 seconds this morning, and while teams can still switch up their runners for the final – a luxury South Africa don’t have – that certainly bodes well for Friday night.
Meanwhile, missing out on the final after finishing fourth in their heat in 38.45 seconds were 2016 and 2012 champions Jamaica.
Speaking about what went through his mind when he received the baton, Simbine reckoned: “I just need to run my leg, that’s all that went through my mind.
“I didn't know where we were at in position, it was just me making sure I run my leg and putting the best foot out, and I think once we were about the 70m mark I could see my position.”
Maswanganyi, who ran the second leg for the first time, added: “We made a few errors, we still ran a solid time, that just shows we have the depth, we have the talent, and we are just able to persevere through the challenges.
“To be able to put up a solid time like that I'm excited for the final and I know that we’re going to have to put our best foot forward, go back to the drawing board and just analyse and see where we can improve in terms of making sure the stick is a lot swifter.”
FOURIE MAKES SECOND CHANCE COUNT
Earlier on the track, Marioné Fourie made sure of her place in the 100m hurdles semifinals by winning her repechage race in a time of 12.79 seconds.
The 22-year-old was pleased with the improvement on her heat on Wednesday.
Marione Fourie wins her repechage round! 🇿🇦👏
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 8, 2024
She's safely through to the Women's 100m Hurdles semi-finals. 🏃♀️#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/8LioxC8SPQ
“Yesterday was a bad race, but I can't do anything about it,” she said after the repechage.
“I forgot about the race yesterday in like 10, 20 minutes, you just have to set your mind to another race and keep going forward.
“It's just starting to warm up so I'm happy about the race and I know I can go faster,” she added.
DE KLERK MISSES OUT ON SHOT PUT FINAL
Miné de Klerk didn’t have quite as successful a morning, finishing 31st overall in shot put qualification with a best effort of 15.63m and not making it through to the final.
Mine De Klerk gave it her all with a throw of 15.63m in the women's shot put, finishing 16th. #TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/d86LutSsnO
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 8, 2024
VINCENT DIVES INTO FINAL
Across the road at the aquatics centre, SA diver Julia Vincent somersaulted her way into a first Olympic final.
Competing at her third Games, the 29-year-old finished sixth overall in the 3m springboard event with a points total of 297.30, well within the top-12 spot needed to make it through to tomorrow afternoon’s final.
🌊 𝕎𝕆𝕄𝔼ℕ'𝕊 𝔻𝕀𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔾 🌊
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 8, 2024
Julia Vincent finished 6th in the Women’s 3m Springboard semifinal after scoring 297.3pts with her five dives. She’ll be diving in the final tomorrow afternoon.
Well done Julia 👏👏👏#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/sndc23jRni
“My first dive I would call a little bit of a mess, so I was trying not to watch the scores too much until I had kind of got my rhythm again,” said Vincent afterwards.
“But then towards the end, I knew I just needed something steady on my head. Nothing special, just do my dive, and I'd be good to go through.
“I was a little more nervous than I was expecting, just knowing what's on the line, wanting to make sure that I made the final,” she admitted afterwards.
“But I also felt pretty steady. The same as yesterday, I just wanted to stay steady, survive, and advance. That's all these rounds are for so I’m pretty happy with that.”
BUHAI TIED FOR SIXTH AT LE GOLF NATIONAL
Over at Le Golf National, SA’s Ashleigh Buhai, who lay in second spot after the opening round, shot a second-round 73 to finish the day in a tie for sixth along with overnight leader Celine Boutier of France.
Morgane Metraux tops the leaderboard on 8-under par after two rounds at Le Golf National 🔝
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 8, 2024
Ashleigh Buhai is in with a shot at a medal as she sits in a tie for sixth 👇#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/92RJ5XiqZ7
Switzerland’s Morgane Metroux leads the pack by one shot after a round of 66.
The other South African in action, Paula Reto, also shot a second-round 73 and is in a tie for 47th place.
Buhai’s round included two double bogeys, one bogey and four birdies. She said afterwards: “It’s been an adventure. You’ve got to roll with the punches.
“I felt I played really good again today. The first hole I made a double, but I didn't make a bad swing coming out the semi-rough, I just came out a little heavy. And then the second double was disappointing because I had to play out the bunker and then it was between wedges. I tried to hit the hard one, spun it up and... It was just bad course management.
“But I didn't let it ruin me. I just kept staying committed to what I needed to do and I hit good shots coming in.”
Meanwhile, it was a tough day for South African climber Lauren Mukheibir who finished 20th in the lead semifinal and did not qualify for the final.
Lauren Mukheibir wrapped up her sport climbing event in 20th place.#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/lP4QaN1r7g
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 8, 2024