Australian teenage sensation Peyton Craig has narrowly missed qualifying for the Olympic men’s 800m final despite a scintillating semi-final performance.
The 19-year-old ran a personal best time of 1:44.11, which was faster than four of the athletes who qualified for the final, but came sixth in what was clearly the quickest of three semi-finals on Friday night (AEST).
Craig’s time was also an equal Australian Olympic record, which he now shares with Peter Bol’s semi-final effort in Tokyo at the previous Olympics.
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Bol went on to finish fourth in the final.
“However you measure it up, that was a stellar semi-final performance,” Gerard Whateley said on Nine.
Speaking to Nine after the race, the 19-year-old said he was still stoked with the experience despite not qualifying.
“That was so much fun,” Craig said.
“You can’t take that for granted; an Olympic semi-final at 19, it’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. It was awesome.”
Craig, who also set a new Australian under-20 record, has dreams of reaching another two Olympics and one-day winning gold.
“Hopefully (I have) a long career ahead and a couple more Games would be nice,” he said.
“It’s all an experience, all learning. (There were) so many lessons I can take out of that race. It’s unreal.”
The teenager said he wasn’t overwhelmed by the gravity of the moment, but there were some nerves getting to the semi.
“For the heat, I was really, really nervous. But I think I expected myself to get out of the heat, so once I did that, it felt like a bit of pressure left my shoulders,” he admitted.
“Today was just about enjoying the experience, and the way I looked at it, no one was expecting me to get through, the other guys were expecting to get through. I took a lot of peace in that, knowing whatever I deliver today is for me and me only.
“I was really happy with how I ran and there’s not much more I could have done. Sometimes you deliver your best and your best just isn’t good enough, and that was today.”
He finished in a rush and did threaten to sneak into the top four, positioning himself perfectly on the home straight, but just couldn’t get past the runners ahead of him.
“I’ve always finished races pretty strong. Most of the time I’ve been able to pass people on that last hundred, but this is just another level of athletes,” he said.
“I think, give me another year and I’ll be passing those people in the last hundred.”
The top two from each semi-final qualified for the final, and the next fastest two from any of the three semis.
Given Craig’s was clearly the fastest semi, he would have qualified for the final if he finished fourth.