Team South Africa’s Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi and Benjamin Richardson qualified for the men’s 100m semi-finals as some of the favourites for the Paris Olympic title made heavy weather of their first round heats.
Akani Simbine won heat six in a time of 10.03, while Maswanganyi, who was in the same race as American hotshot Noah Lyles, was third in heat three, finishing in a time of 10.06.
Richardson managed to qualify as one of the fastest losers after finishing outside of the first three athletes in heat five following a run of 10.06.
The form athlete in the men’s 100m heading into the Olympics, Lyles, was one of the last athletes out of the blocks in his heat and had to work hard to finish second behind Britain's Louie Hinchliffe in a time of 10.04.
Italy's Marcell Jacobs, who won a surprise gold in Tokyo, also laboured through his heat and just scraped through in a time of 10.05.
Jamaica's Kishane Thompson looked in ominous form, running 10 flat, but easing down significantly in the final stages.
🔥 Double the pride, double the excitement! 🔥
Akani Simbine and Shaun Maswanganyi are through to the Semi-finals of the Men's 100m.
Keep cheering for our #TeamSA athletes! 💪![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#ForMyCountry #Olympics2024 pic.twitter.com/SJQ0S6JSdY
Simbine, Lyles and Jacobs all made sluggish starts, during their heats. All three will have to improve of they hope to make the podium on Sunday night.
The men’s favourites’ struggles is in stark contrast to the displays of the women’s 100m stars on Friday, who looked to make a statement ahead of Saturday’s semis and final.
Flamboyant US track star Sha'Carri Richardson was oozing confidence during her heat, as she goes in search of Olympic gold to add to her world title.
Additional reporting by AFP
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