Olympic Updates (July 30): Busy Day in Pools, Advancing on PKs, Track Starts
7/30/2021 12:53:00 PM | Olympics
• Tokyo Olympics Site | U-M Olympics Coverage
Women's Swimming
Former U-M women's swimmer Siobhán Haughey raced her way back to the podium Friday morning (July 30) at Tokyo Aquatics Centre, earning her second 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal for Hong Kong, this time in the 100-meter freestyle. Haughey's 52.27 was .31 off the new Olympic record set by gold-medal winner Emma McKeon of Australia (51.96). Australia's Cate Campbell placed third (52.52).
The 2019 U-M alumna held second for most of the race, making the turn after 50 meters just two one-hundredths of a second behind the McKeon. Although Campbell pulled even with 25 meters to go, Haughey was able to hold off the Aussie and take silver by .25 seconds. The first Olympic swimming medalist in Hong Kong's history, Haughey broke the Asian record in the 100 free for the third day in a row.
Action continued with a busy evening in Japan for current and former members of the Michigan women's swimming and diving program, as four individuals competed in the 4x100-meter medley relay and Haughey qualified for the 50-meter freestyle semifinals. In the relay, rising senior Maggie MacNeil helped Team Canada to the fastest time of the heats, while rising junior Mariella Venter competed for South Africa and alumnae Haughey and Jamie Yeung raced for Hong Kong.
Canada touched the wall in 3:55.17, merely one one-hundredth of a second ahead of Team USA, and qualified for the relay final at 9:44 p.m. EDT Saturday, July 31 (10:44 a.m. Sunday in Japan). MacNeil pulled the Canadians from fourth place and more than two seconds behind the leaders at the start of her butterfly to second place and only trailing by .14 with her 55.82 leg. Kayla Sanchez turned in a 52.68 in the final leg of the race to give Canada the win.
In the same heat as Canada, Yeung swam the breaststroke in 1:08.69, while Haughey followed up with a 56.67 butterfly as Hong Kong finished seventh in its heat and 13th overall (4:02.86). In the first heat, Venter swam the backstroke in 1:01.03, but South Africa also failed to qualify for the final after finishing 14th overall (4:03.02).
On the individual side, Haughey continued her impressive performance in the freestyle events, finishing the 50-meter free in 24.75 to qualify for the semifinals with the 15th-fastest time. She will return to action at 10:32 p.m. EDT Friday, July 30 (11:32 a.m. Saturday in Japan) with her eyes on a third final of the Tokyo Games.
• 100-meter Freestyle (Final): 2. Siobhán Haughey (52.27)
• 50-meter Freestyle (Heats): 15. Siobhán Haughey (24.75)
• 4x100-meter Medley Relay (Heats): 1. Canada (3:55.17), 13. Hong Kong (4:02.86), 14. South Africa (4:03.02)
• Results and Video: 100 Free | 50 Free | 4x100 Medley Relay
• Haughey Adds Second Olympic Medal with Silver in 100-meter Freestyle
Felix Auböck (Getty Images)
Men's Swimming
Former Wolverine Felix Auböck (Austria) qualified for an impressive third final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Friday (July 30), winning his 1,500-meter heat and qualifying seventh overall. The 2020 alumnus made a late charge to win his heat, holding second place in the race until the final 150 meters. Auböck passed Russian Olympic Committee's Kirill Martynychev and ended up winning the heat by nearly eight-tenths of a second. The 1,500-meter freestyle final is scheduled for 9:44 p.m. EDT Saturday, July 31 (10:44 a.m. Sunday in Japan).
• 1,500-meter Freestyle (Heats): 7. Felix Auböck (14:51.88)
• Results and Video
Women's Soccer
Canada 0, Brazil 0 (Canada advances on penalty kicks, 4-3)
Canada advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after outscoring Brazil 4-3 in penalty kicks following a scoreless 120 minutes of play at Miyagi Stadium. Christine Sinclair stepped up first for Canada and did not convert, and Marta converted for Brazil to put them up 1-0. Canada made its next three shot attempts to bring the score to an even 3-3 with two shots remaining for Brazil. Goaltender Stephanie Labbe came up with back-to-back massive saves for Canada on the final two attempts for Brazil, while Vanessa Gilles made the fifth and final shot to assure Canada will play for a medal. Rising junior Jayde Riviere entered the match in the 107th minute for Canada, while alumna Shelina Zadorsky did not see playing time. Canada will play the United States, which also advanced on PKs, in the semifinal round Monday (Aug. 2) at 4 a.m. EDT (5 p.m. in Japan) at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
• Jayde Riviere: 11 minutes (entered in 107th minute)
• Shelina Zadorsky: Did not play
• Stats and Video (NBCOlympics.com)
Mason Ferlic (USATSI)
Men's Track and Field
In his Olympic debut, Mason Ferlic of the United States ran 8:20.23 for 21st overall and eighth in his heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a sprint to the finish Friday morning (July 30) at Olympic Stadium. He remained alive for a non-automatic qualifying berth for the final after his heat but was eliminated after the results of heat two were finalized.
After settling in at the back of the pack early in the race, Ferlic steadily moved his way up despite the quick early pace, picking off a runner each lap in the early going to move up to 10th halfway through the race. That is where he would stay through the second of three kilometers, with the pack stretched out.
Shortly after that split, the lead group broke in two, and Ferlic had to make a big move to try to bridge the gap up to the top seven runners. At the bell he still had not made contact with the lead group, but he was in pursuit of the seventh-place runner. That battle continued all the way to the finish line, as Ferlic tried to run down France's Djilali Bedrani but was just edged out by .003 (8:20.223 to 8:20.226).
• 3,000-meter Steeplechase (Round 1): 21. Mason Ferlic (8:20.23) -- 8th, heat 1
• Results and Video
Amy Ridge (USATSI)
Women's Water Polo
Spain 15, Australia 9
The Australian women's water polo team suffered its first setback of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Friday night (July 30) in Tokyo, falling 15-9 at the hands of Spain at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre. The two sides played evenly through the first part of the game, with Spain holding a narrow 7-6 lead at halftime. The Stingers' offense fell flat in the second half, however, scoring just three goals while the Spaniards more than doubled their first-half total. Former Wolverine Abby Andrews made it three straight games with a goal, scoring in the second quarter on her only shot of the game. She and fellow former Wolverine Amy Ridge will return to action when Australia (2-1) faces South Africa (0-3) in its preliminary-round finale Sunday (Aug. 1) at 6:50 a.m. EDT (7:50 p.m. in Tokyo).
• Abby Andrews: 1 goal, 1 shot
• Amy Ridge: 3 shots
• Stats and Video
