Sunday, August 1
Marta Pen Freitas (POR)
7:35 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Women's 1500m First Round
Photo by: Reuters
Stumble Disrupts Pen Freitas’ Olympic Progress
August 01, 2021 | Track & Field, Olympic Games
UPDATE: Marta Pen Freitas was reinstated for the semifinals following a protest by the Portuguese Olympic Committee on Sunday night.
TOKYO, Japan – Marta Pen Freitas' second Olympic Games ended in heartbreaking fashion after she was knocked off course in the final turn of the women's 1500m on Sunday night.
Running in the third heat, Pen Freitas, a former national champion at Mississippi State, was chasing a bubble time that sat at 4:07.29 entering the last race. She crossed the line in 4:07.33, ultimately finishing 1.11 seconds behind the final time qualifier who crossed in 4:06.22.
The heat went out quickly and had the majority of the field in position to advance, reaching the bell lap nearly four seconds faster than the previous heats. Pen Freitas was in ninth place in her heat when Morocco's Rababe Arafi pulled up and stopped on the track. Pen Freitas' stride was disrupted as she could not get around Arafi.
The Portugal native could still advance via an appeal if she petitions for obstruction and is successfully reinstated, but as of Sunday night, she was not slated to reach the semifinals.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
TOKYO, Japan – Marta Pen Freitas' second Olympic Games ended in heartbreaking fashion after she was knocked off course in the final turn of the women's 1500m on Sunday night.
Running in the third heat, Pen Freitas, a former national champion at Mississippi State, was chasing a bubble time that sat at 4:07.29 entering the last race. She crossed the line in 4:07.33, ultimately finishing 1.11 seconds behind the final time qualifier who crossed in 4:06.22.
The heat went out quickly and had the majority of the field in position to advance, reaching the bell lap nearly four seconds faster than the previous heats. Pen Freitas was in ninth place in her heat when Morocco's Rababe Arafi pulled up and stopped on the track. Pen Freitas' stride was disrupted as she could not get around Arafi.
The stumble that kept @Martapenfreitas out of the semifinals...#HailState🐶 | #StateToTokyo pic.twitter.com/JEpaiktaqP
— Mississippi State T&F (@HailStateTF) August 2, 2021
The Portugal native could still advance via an appeal if she petitions for obstruction and is successfully reinstated, but as of Sunday night, she was not slated to reach the semifinals.
For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Women's 1500m Qualifying Results
28. Marta Pen Freitas, 4:07.33
Players Mentioned
1500m
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