South Africa’s men’s 4x100m relay team were handed a lifeline after failing to finish their heat due to a collision with Italy during the first baton change.
Following a successful appeal, the referee granted the quartet an additional chance to qualify for the final in a solo time trial scheduled for the early hours of Sunday morning.
Needing to post a time of 38.34 or faster to book a lane in the final, the quartet of Shaun Maswanganyi, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine came up well short, finishing in a time of 38.64.
The splits for the four runners were: Maswanganyi (10.50), Dambile (9.27), Nokana (9.68) and Simbine (9.19).
The final is scheduled for 14:20 (SA time).
Forgettable championship
It’s been a forgettable championship to date for Team South Africa, who, entering the final day of competing on Sunday, is yet to win a medal.
They will however, have an excellent chance of doing so in the men’s 4x400m relay where they are potentially silver medal favourites.
Provided of course they can get the baton around safely.
That final will start at 13:20 (SA time).
They will be the only Team SA members in action on a day which will feature nine finals.
SATURDAY’S ACTION AND RESULTS
Men’s 4x400m, heats: South Africa (Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Lythe Pilay) won their heat in 2:58.81 to qualify for the final as fourth fastest.
Women’s 4x400m, heats: South Africa (Shirley Nekhubui, Marlie Viljoen, Hannah van Niekerk and Zeney van der Walt)) finished 7th in their heat in 3:28.14 and missed out on a place in the final
Women’s shot put, qualification: Mine de Klerk achieved a distance of 17.39m which left her outside of the final in 24th place overall, while Ashley Erasmus (30th with 16.90m) and Colette Uys (32nd with 16.68m) also didn’t progress to the final
Women’s javelin, FINAL: Jo-Ane du Plessis finished 4th with a best throw of 63.06m
