South Africa’s men’s 4x100m relay dream ended in heartbreak on Sunday morning at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Handed a rare lifeline after Saturday’s controversial semi-final clash, the quartet of Shaun Maswanganyi, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine clocked 38.64 seconds in their special time trial. This was three-tenths slower than the required 38.34 to book a lane in tonight’s final.
“Running in the early morning is a bit of a challenge, and then coming back to the hotel at midnight, and then having to reset and go again. They should have given us lane one to run, but that is the game,” a disappointed Simbine said afterwards.
The setback ends South Africa’s 4x100m medal hopes.
Attention now shifts to the men’s 4x400m relay final at 13:20 (SA time).
This will be Team SA‘s last shot at silverware in Tokyo.
