Prudence Sekgodiso gave her all to finish on the 800m podium in Paris on Monday night, but ultimately couldn’t match the speed of her rivals down the home straight and finished eighth in a time of 1:58.79.
The 22-year-old stayed within the pack for much of the race and looked to be in contention to follow any move made up front.
But when the leaders surged ahead around the final bend, Sekgodiso could not respond.
Pre-race favourite Keely Hodgkinson of Britain stormed home to take the gold in 1:56.72, with Ethiopia’s world indoor champion Tsige Duguma edging out Kenya’s outdoor world champion Mary Moraa to take the silver in a new personal best of 1:57.15, and Moraa finishing with bronze in 1:57.42.
Had Sekgodiso managed her own personal best time of 1:57.26 she ran in Morocco earlier this year, she would have secured the bronze.
Speaking after the race, the Pretoria-based star said she felt the first 400m was too slow but her plan was to stick with the pack.
“The race overall was OK… I feel like I wasted so much energy because I've been running in lane two the whole time, and that's my biggest mistake,” said Sekgodiso. “I know my coach is going to fight with me about it.
“It's a lesson I learnt and I'm going to take it and move on.”
As for losing out on the home straight, Sekgodiso added: “I'm not good in the final 100m. The plan was just to stick with them and then anything can happen. The time when I saw all the girls passing me I was like, ‘oh my word, what's happening? I'm just going to keep my head up and just finish the race.’
“But I'm so happy that I made it to the final… it really means a lot to me.”
RICHARDSON WORRIES
Earlier in the evening, there was massive concern after Benji Richardson pulled up in his 200m heat with what appeared to be an injury.
Reports from within the SA team were that the 20-year-old had experienced a cramp during the race and had stopped as a precaution.
He will undergo a scan to determine whether any damage has been done and whether he will be available for the 4x100m relay later in the week.
VAN NIEKERK, MASWANGANYI INTO 200 SEMIS
Meanwhile, both Wayde van Niekerk and Shaun Maswanganyi booked their passage through to the 200m semifinals after finishing third in their respective heats.
Van Niekerk admitted to feeling some rust afterwards after finishing in 20.42 seconds but was pleased to have progressed without having to contest the repechage round.
He also confirmed his priority when it comes to the relays in Paris is the 4x400m rather than the 4x100m, where he could be needed should Richardson not be available.
“It's been a bit of an inconsistent year to be honest with you,” said the 400m world record holder, who is not competing in that event at these Games.
“I’m not totally pleased with how it has been, but I'm here, just ran against a quality group of guys and at the same time I saw that I wasn't close to where I know I can be. So I know that there’s still a bit of work that needs to be done, and a bit of shifting that needs to be done, and let's see what happens going forward.”
Maswanganyi finished his heat in 20.20 seconds and admitted afterwards: “I know I made some mistakes in that race. I'm going to look back at it with coach Carl [Lewis].
“But I'm very confident for the semifinal, praying I've got a good lane draw, anything between three to nine is a great lane and I'll be happy with that.”
PILLAY, NENE BOOK SPOTS IN 400 SEMIS
Earlier in the day, both Lythe Pillay and Zakithi Nene booked their places in the 400m semifinals by winning their repechage races.
Both runners missed out on booking automatic spots in Sunday’s heats and were unhappy with having to run again.
“I'm just a little frustrated with myself, adding an unnecessary round in my legs. So I’ve gone the hard way round, but I’m here now and into the semis,” said Nene who finished in a time of 44.81.
“I thought my effort yesterday was enough… I know what I can produce. I just hope that I can do it when it matters most.”
Pillay, who won his race in 45.40, added: “I think today was just more not panicking after yesterday. There definitely is still something I have to figure out with regards to my body.
“But I survive to run one more round so hopefully I can figure things out for tomorrow. I would say I ran within myself today but it’s still probably my second slowest time of the season so it is a bit concerning. I know I’m in shape, the training shows everything.
“But I’m officially a semifinalist, the race is not done so let’s see what I can do tomorrow.”
ANOTHER CHANCE FOR COETZEE IN WOMEN'S 400
Miranda Coetzee will also have to contest a repechage round after finishing fourth in her 400m heat in a time of 51.58 seconds on Monday.
DISCUSS THROWERS FAIL TO QUALIFY
Neither of South Africa’s discus throwers progressed through qualifying.
Francois Prinsloo’s best effort of 61.35m saw him finishing 23rd overall while Victor Hogan threw 60.78m to finish 27th.
“I had a very enjoyable experience. My body felt good. Everything felt really nice. I guess I just couldn't do it in the moment. I'm guessing it's probably because of my inexperience when it comes to really big competitions like this because I mean in warm-ups I hit distances that could very well have qualified,” said US-based Prinsloo afterwards.
“But everything in God's timing, so just take it on the chin. I'll take this as a learning opportunity.”
NEW SA, AFRICAN RECORD FOR SPEED CLIMBER HOLDER
Over at the Le Bourget Climbing Centre, both of South Africa’s competitors, Aniya Holder in the women’s Speed and Mel Janse van Rensburg in the men’s Boulder and Lead, were eliminated early on.
But for Holder it was mission accomplished, having achieved what she came to Paris for which was to set a new South African and African record of 9.12 seconds.
“I was never there to beat anybody. I was always there to just get a personal best and to beat the African record,” she said after being eliminated by new world record holder Alexandra Miroslaw of Poland.
“I just haven't been training long enough to realistically want to beat anybody here.
“But I've had like four PBs in the last two days. So I'm very happy with that.”
Her takeaways from her first Olympic experience? “You can come from nothing and still make it… I haven't had the easiest life story too. So you can still do it,” she said with a smile.
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