(Paris) Quebec sprinter Audrey Leduc and her teammates in the women’s 4×100 meter relay qualified for the final on Thursday at the Paris Olympic Games.
Leduc of Gatineau, Marie-Éloïse Leclair of Montreal, Jacqueline Madogo of Ottawa and Sade McCreath of Ajax, Ont., completed the event in 42.50 seconds to finish fourth in the second round of qualifying at the Stade de France, earning one of two berths awarded to teams selected for the final scheduled for Friday.
In passing, the Canadians set a new Canadian record, notably propelled by Leduc’s blistering time of 10.04 seconds during the last relay.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Audrey Leduc crosses the finish line.
“Anything can happen in the final, so our goal remains to reach the podium,” said Leduc. “I think if we can run even faster, or improve our execution, then we’ll be satisfied. Maybe we’ll achieve another Canadian record tomorrow (Friday).”
“I think we’re turning the women’s program around,” Madogo continued. “The guys have had enough time in the spotlight, it’s our turn. We’re coming at full speed.”
The last time Canada made the women’s 4x100m relay final was at the 2016 Rio Games, where it finished sixth. It also hasn’t won a medal in the event since winning silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Games — a 40-year drought.
Their male colleagues followed a few moments later on the track, with the same result.
Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney ran the 4x100m relay in 38.39 seconds to finish third in the second heat of qualifying. That was also enough to see them through to the final.
PHOTO MARTIN MEISSNER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chen Jiapeng, Pablo Mateo, and Andre De Grasse were the first three to cross the finish line.
De Grasse revealed on Wednesday night after failing to qualify for the 200m final that he was hampered by a hamstring injury he aggravated a few days ago. He also failed to secure a spot in the 100m final on Sunday — his first failure in that event at the Olympics.
“I’ve been working with these guys for what, nine years? The three of us won our first medal (at the Worlds) in 2015,” De Grasse recalled. “Jerome joined us in Tokyo in 2021.
“These guys are like brothers, we’ve spent a lot of time together and I want to support them, so I’ll do my best. I have one race left, so I have to ignore the pain and keep fighting,” added the Ontarian.
This isn’t the first time this has happened for De Grasse and the men’s relay team. De Grasse, who has been slowed recently by a toe injury and COVID-19, missed the 100m final, withdrew from the 200m and competed in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
There, the six-time Olympic medalist helped Canada win gold in the relay.
This time, De Grasse is looking to give it his all on the track. Canada won bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, before claiming the world title in 2022.
“I love this sport, I want to be on the track. I have one race left, so I hope the adrenaline and everything else will carry me to the finish line so we can get a medal,” he said.
“We talked about this moment, we want to get back on the track and do our best for our country, our loved ones and our friends. We have to show up on the track, for this last race, and execute our plan, give everything we have left,” he concluded.
As for what could be improved for the final, Brown singled out the baton exchange. Rodney propelled Canada to first place before the exchange with De Grasse slowed the team down.
“The trade zones, for sure, the last one was horrible, downright amateurish,” Brown said. “Hey, that’s the way it is. That’s why we’re looking at video footage and making some adjustments.
“That’s why I always say: don’t be influenced by the foreplay. We didn’t give our all today, but we’ll be ready tomorrow night,” he summed up.
Meanwhile, Sarah Mitton continued her path to the shot put final with a throw of 19.77 metres on her first attempt. She needed to achieve the standard of 19.15 metres or be among the top 12 to reach the final scheduled for Friday.
The 28-year-old from Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, won silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and the world indoor title last March. Mitton threw a personal best and season best of 20.68 metres in May.
PHOTO ASHLEY LANDIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sarah Mitton
Mitton said she’s “never been more ready for a competition” about the final, and qualifying on her first try was the perfect scenario. She’ll be looking to become the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in the shot put.
“Just one try gives you a lot of confidence,” she admitted. “I’m very optimistic about my technique, overall. I felt like I was in control.”
With Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press