Jimmy Vicaut of Team France, Fred Kerley of Team United States, Andre De Grasse of Team Canada, Yohan Blake of Team Jamaica and Gift Leotlela of Team South Africa compete in the Men's 100m Semi-Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
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Team SA’s last remaining real podium hope — at least on paper — storms into action in Tokyo on Thursday morning‚ but looking like a shadow of the outfit that triumphed in the men’s 4x100m at World Relays a few months back.

At least two members from that relay team are missing — Gift Leotlela got injured in the men’s 100m semifinals on Wednesday and Thando Dlodlo was omitted by selectors.

That leaves top sprinter Akani Simbine‚ who ended fourth in the 100m‚ and Clarence Munyai‚ a decent bend runner with poor form after picking up a quad injury a month or so ago.

Wayde van Niekerk had said he’d consider stepping into the breach‚ but relay coach Paul Gorries said on Wednesday the sprint star — the first man in the world to run a sub-10 100m‚ sub-20 200m and sub-44 400m — was not available after all.

Van Niekerk would not compete in the 4x400m either‚ he added.

The South Africans will line up in a tough heat at 4.30am on Thursday‚ competing in lane seven against three teams that have run faster this season.

The top three from the two heats will advance to Friday’s final‚ along with the two fastest time qualifiers.

The SA team clocked 38.71sec winning on a cold night in Poland‚ but Great Britain (38.27 season’s best)‚ Jamaica (38.33 SB) and Brazil (38.45 SB) pose threats‚ as do the Netherlands‚ who matched SA’s 38.49 season’s best in the heats.

Hosts Japan‚ Trinidad and Tobago and France can’t be discounted either.

Of their rivals in the heat‚ the British‚ Jamaicans and Trinidad and Tobago were not in Poland. Some teams in the other heat were also not there‚ notably the US‚ China and Canada.

SA faced them all at the 2019 world championships in Doha‚ where they finished fifth after setting a 37.65sec national record.

But relay coach Paul Gorries isn't spoiled for choice. His form sprinters are Simbine and US-based Shaun Maswanganyi‚ a semifinalist in both the 100m and 200m.

Munyai‚ a decent bend-runner who has struggled with form after suffering a quad injury‚ is an option‚ and then there are the two reserves‚ Chederick van Wyk and Galaletsang Ramorwa.

Wayde van Niekerk had said after being eliminated from the 400m that he’d consider doing the relay‚ but he would not be part of the outfit‚ Gorries said on Wednesday. Van Niekerk would also not compete in the 4x400m‚ he added.

Everything will hang on the handovers the squad has been practising.

After them‚ SA’s medal chances are thinning out all the time.

Rocco van Rooyen was unable to advance in the men’s javelin on Wednesday‚ throwing a best of 77.41m to miss out on the top 12. Michelle Weber‚ who finished 18th at Rio 2016‚ ended 21st as she battled in warm conditions and water temperature of 29 degrees.

“The race was tricky‚ very different to anything I’m used to … very‚ very hot swim‚” she said. “Back to the drawing board and we’ll come back stronger for the next one.”

Melissa Williams ended 24th in the park skateboarding competition‚ and Erin Sterkenburg was 20th in the women’s sport climbing.

Charlene du Preez was eliminated in the women’s Keirin and Jan Spies was unable to advance to the round of 32 in the men’s sprint.

Kyle Blignaut will compete in the men’s shot put final on Thursday (4.05am SA time)‚ but the youngster shouldn’t be considered a contender. If he can hit a personal best and some of the main rivals struggle‚ then he could find a backdoor onto the podium.

Michael Mcglynn is in action in the men’s marathon swim‚ which kicks off at 11.30pm on Wednesday‚ and Wayne Snyman competes in the 20km walk at 9.30am Thursday. Cyclist David Maree takes part in the Omnium.​

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