8 August 2024
The Liberian Olympic 4×100 relay team competed in Round 1 on Thursday in France, finishing seventh in its heat with a time of 38.97 seconds.
That wasn’t enough to move into Friday’s event final. While not widely considered a medal contender, the relay likely hoped for a better result. But the mere participation in 2024 Summer Games was a major step forward for the delegation, which consisted of just two athletes in 2016.
One of those was 2009 St. Paul Johnson grad Emmanuel Matadi, a two-time opening ceremony flag bearer for the nation. He has since aided the efforts to build up Liberia’s sprinting core with the help of fellow Minnesotans. Running with him Thursday were Hopkins grad Joe Fahnbulleh and current Minnesota State-Mankato runner Jabez Reeves.
The United States qualified for the final with the top Round 1 time of 37.47 seconds. China won Liberia’s heat.
The final is set for 12:47 p.m. Central on Friday.
Liberia was a bit short-handed at the Olympics. North St. Paul grad Akeem Sirleaf, who helped the team qualify for Paris at the World Athletic Relays — where a dramatic comeback on the final leg by Fahnbulleh pushed the Liberians into qualifying position — suffered an Achilles injury in June and could only serve as an alternate at the Games.
The relay was the final race of Matadi’s Olympic career. The 33-year-old — who competed in his third Olympics in Paris — noted last month these would be his final Games. In some ways, the relay is his legacy.
“It’s the most important thing, honestly. Because that’s always been one of my biggest dreams, to be able to have a relay,” Matadi said ahead of the Olympics. “Because a relay is the fun thing, right? Guys come together and make it happen. And I always was like, ‘Man, I really want to get it to a point where we have enough people and enough numbers that we’re doing well enough to qualify for Olympics.’
“Because there’s only 16 spots, 16 teams in the field, and there’s a lot of countries. And it’s not like you hit a time and can do it. You have to do it at the qualifying meet, World Relays, where all the countries are. So, you’re battling it out. For us to be able to have a strong team and get in, it’s amazing.”
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