Canadian men's, women's 4x100m relay teams earn spots in Olympic finals
Leduc leads women to national record, De Grasse holds off Jamaican men at finish line
Canada will be represented in both the men's and women's 4x100-metre relay finals at the Paris Olympic Games after securing berths in the heats on Thursday at Stade de France.
Racing at less than full health, four Canadian men's sprinters delivered a strong performance to secure their spot.
Andre De Grasse ran the anchor leg and held off Jamaica's Kishane Thompson at the finish line for third place. The top three teams from each of the two heats and the next two fastest race in Friday's final at 1:47 p.m. ET.
De Grasse revealed to CBC Sports after clocking 20.41 seconds in Wednesday's 200 semifinal that he's dealing with a lingering hamstring injury that is manageable running straight. Following his opening-round heat on Monday, the 2021 Olympic champion in the distance lifted his right leg and winced.
"I'm trying to give it my best effort and hopefully that'll be enough [for the relay final]," said De Grasse when asked about his physical health in an interview with Devin Heroux of CBC Sports.
Brown posted the fastest opening leg in the second of two heats Thursday in 10.48.
"I did what I had to do to get my guys in good position and I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow. I love my guys and I know [we] can [win a medal]," he said.
WATCH | De Grasse lifts Canadian men into Olympic relay final:
Brown also wasn't 100 per cent during the 200 semifinals after battling a stomach bug during the Canadian athletics team's pre-Olympic camp in Barcelona.
Still, the two-time Olympic medallist from Toronto said Canadians should expect "magic" from the relay team in the final.
"We're going to fix some things, watch some [race video]. We've got the best coaches … and we'll be ready."
Brendon Rodney, who missed qualifying for the 200 final with De Grasse and Brown, ran the third leg in the relay in 9.44 after Jerome Blake made his first appearance at these Games and clocked a team-best 9.08 after receiving the baton from Brown.
"I couldn't wait to get on the track," said Blake, a Kelowna, B.C. native. "I was jumping [pre-race away from the track] and everyone's like, 'Calm down, focus on getting [a good start].' It was a long wait seeing these guys run every day and I was itching [to compete].
"I got my opportunity, it felt great. The crowd was very good. They have energy and they're crazy, so I love that. I'm looking forward to the final."
Canada clocked 37.70 for bronze in the 2021 Olympic final in Tokyo before being upgraded to silver following the disqualification of Great Britain athlete. Italy, led by Marcell Jacobs, won in 37.50.
The Canadian men haven't won Olympic relay gold since 1996 when Donovan Bailey, Bruny Surin, Robert Esmie and Glenroy Gilbert ruled the track in 1996.
At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Canada's 37.48 was a national record.
The Canadian team missed the final at last year's worlds in Budapest, Hungary, with De Grasse opting to skip the relay for rest.
This past May, Canada ran a season-best 37.89 at World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas.
Leduc closes women's relay in 10.04 seconds
Sade McCreath, Jacqueline Madogo, Marie-Éloise Leclair and Audrey Leduc are into the women's final after running a national record of 42.50 for fourth in their heat.
"We knew that we could run a national record, we knew we were one of the best countries in the world, so to do it and show the rest of the world feels right," said McCreath, the 28-year-old from Ajax, Ont., making her first Olympic appearance.
Leduc of Gatineau, Que., ran the anchor leg and passed three women in posting a closing time of 10.04.
"Just run fast," she said when asked about her mindset after receiving the baton. "My goal was to put the team in good position at the end. I'm just excited to be able to get to the final as a first-time Olympian."
WATCH | Canada's women lower national mark on way to Olympic relay final berth:
Madago, an Ottawa native, talked about the team's special bond and how it's a close-knit group.
"We communicate really well and that's what's brought us here and making us excel," she said. "I'm glad that we're putting the [Canadian women's] relay program back on the map.
"It's been a long ride for the women's 4x100 in Canada … but now we're in the Olympic final."
The previous Canadian mark was 42.60 from 2015.
Canada is competing in this event at the Summer Games for first time since Rio in 2016 when Crystal Emmanuel, Khamica Bingham, Phylicia George and Farah Jacques clocked 43.150.
This year's group was second (42.98) in its race at World Athletics Relays in May to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
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