Australian Record and three to semi-finals an Olympic first 

Bol was the sixth fastest Australian before today and is now the fastest ever with his heat run of 1:44.13 seconds. His training partner and friend Joseph Deng held the previous mark at 1:44.21. 

Riseley (1:45.41) and Hunter (1:45.91) had great heat runs to progress as non-automatic qualifiers. This is the first time in Olympic history that Australia has had three runners through to the semis. Our last semi-finalist was in 2000, and the only time we have had two was 1956. The semi-finals to be held on Saturday night. 

Bol becomes the third different athlete coached by Justin Rinaldi to set the national 800m record in the last six years, following Alex Rowe in 2015 and Deng in 2018. 

“It’s awesome to have the national record but today isn’t really about times,” Bol who got run out in the heats at Rio 2016 said.  

“If I ran the national record and didn’t get through to the semi, then that would have been a bad result.  

“It’s about getting to the next round, whatever it takes, that was my mindset, and it took the national record – I’m happy with that. I wanted to be aggressive, but controlled and relaxed. Just trying to balance it altogether is a hell of a combination.” 

Bol was looking around to make sure he would be in the top three auto qualifiers and looked to be cruising to the line. 

“I didn’t think it was a 1:43 race, if I knew that I would have run a bit harder (and not looked around) then maybe have run a 1:43. There’s time for that in the semi. 

Bol is not making any big predictions for the Games but knows he has had a good preparation both physically and mentally. 

“I’m not in the best (condition) physically, or the best mentally, I’m balanced both ways – right in the middle. Previously, I’ve been physical there and not mentally and also the other way, now it’s just balanced.” 

Riseley has now progressed to the next round for the first time at this his fourth Olympics, He was pleased with his performance and happy for his training partner. 

“It was just nice to be running down the straight and fighting for a spot with a feeling that I had something in the legs. I felt like I could get to third, but just didn’t quite have it,” Riseley said. 

“It’s been a long time to get back here. I’ve been training with Pete and he’s been dusting me up in sessions, but to see him go 1:44:0 is great. I ran 1:44.85 and am ranked 40th. It’s outrageous. The standard at the last Olympic Games was 1:46.00 and it’s come so far since then.  

“It’s hard to explain what it's like (to be at a fourth Olympics). I can't wait to call my parents and my manager. I missed in 2017 through mental health, was overlooked for selection on the Gold Coast after Achilles surgery and just kept trying to get back before being knocked down.  

“I wanted to be healthy and enjoy and the extra year helped me a lot. These Olympic stadiums are just beautiful to run it.”  

Clay reaches semi-finals on Olympic debut 

Liz Clay finished second in her 100m hurdles heat in 12.87 seconds, behind American World Record holder Kendra Harrison (12.74). The Gold Coast hurdler on Olympic debut looked right at home in the Olympic Stadium. 

“As soon as I walked out to the stadium, I took a while to setup my blocks up, but after that just realised that I’m meant to be here. This is my thing and to use that. There are some girls that would be deterred, but not me. 

“I’m really stoked. It was a shame that the first start was false because I was absolutely flying, but just said let’s come back and do it again. 

“After the first five hurdles I just said to myself, keep it clean and don’t make any mistakes. I knew I was in with a chance. I got the job done. 

“Honestly, I’m so proud of myself and my family. They’ve supported me through the highs and lows (to get here) and I made the trip to the Gold Coast five years ago to make this team. To do this on the big stage is special. 

“Australian hurdles has a great history. I want to continue that and make it better. I look up to Sally and her achievements and want to be able to continue that tomorrow night.” 

Pearson still holds the Olympic Record from London 2012 of 12.35. But as Pearson said before the meet ‘records are there to be broken’. 

The first Australian on the track was Sarah Carli who did remarkably well to make it to the Games after a serious neck injury earlier in the year. Carli had already qualified for the Olympics before a freak gym accident required life saving surgery in February.

The World Championship semi-finalist came in with very little racing, but she hurdled well and fought to the line for fifth in her heat. It was a big season best of 56.93s but not enough to progress to the semis, just 0.1 seconds from auto qualifying in her own heat. 

Marschall advances to pole vault final 

Kurtis Marschall has confidently moved past a coronavirus scare earlier this week, to record a 5.75m clearance to ensure his start in the men’s pole vault final on Tuesday night. 

A self-identified close contact of Sam Kendricks, the American world champion who has tested positive, Marschall’s preparation for today’s qualification has been less than smooth. 

“It’s been an eventful couple of days. I ended up being a close contact of Sam Kendricks the other day, which was a bit of a shock to the system, but the AOC got us together, sorted the protocols and we managed to avoid anything too drastic,” Marschall said. 

“I gave him a handshake. He wasn’t wearing a mask. I was just stoked to see him. I was wearing a mask, we embraced, and it turns out the bloody idiot had COVID.” 

“There was an hour where I was absolutely stressing, the Games could have been over if I wasn’t vaccinated, and I wasn’t wearing a mask. Luckily, I was and luckily protocols have supported me in the Games.” 

A first attempt clearance at 5.50m for two-time Olympian Marschall was followed shortly thereafter by an anxious third attempt clearance at 5.65m, before cementing his spot among the top-12. 

“The third attempt at 5.65m was not planned. I knew what I had to do when I got there, saw the video, my coaches helped me. I can jump it pretty much blindfolded, but then had to back up and clear 5.75m on my first attempt to get into the final. 

“I feel like that now I’m in a position to compete, anything can happen. It’s a COVID Games, you’ve got to prepare for the worst but hope for the best. I remember at a World Juniors camp they told us to ‘expect the unexpected’ in situations like this so I’ve always prepared myself for anything.”  

Four-time Olympian Stevens unexpectedly misses discus final 

Competing in the qualification rounds of the women’s discus throw, athletics team captain Dani Stevens (nee Samuels) managed a best mark of 58.77m. 

Taking to the thrower’s circle at her fourth Olympic Games, the result was unexpected, and Samuels will not progress to the final. 

“I was trying to find my tempo, I left it all out there with the last one, but they were just too flat. I didn’t have the height in the throw and it’s disappointing. It’s not reflective of where I am at,” Samuels said. 

“I felt like I should have come through the qualifying rounds really swiftly. I felt like I belonged in the top-eight at least, but that’s the Olympics. You have to do it in three throws, it’s tough.” 

On Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium, Henry Franye is in Group A of the long jump qualifying from 8:10pm. Rohan Browning runs in heat 7 of the 100m at 8:33pm and Matt Denny will throw in the discus final at 9:15pm AEST. 

Andrew Reid and Cody Lynch