Paris Olympic Games Moreton Bay Coverage – August 8

Above: Calab Law, who was in Australia's 4x100m relay team tonight. Picture: Kylie Hyssen, Sports Photographer.

Australia’s sprinter relay teams – with Burpengary's Ella Connolly and Calab Law, from Caboolture – have just missed the finals by fractions of a second tonight.

The women had their second fastest time ever, but were pipped by 0.11 of a second - and the men by 0.05 of a second in their 4x100m relay heats.

Connolly, a former Burpengary resident at Deception Bay Little Athletics, led the Australian women’s team off the starting blocks in heat one.

She gave the Aussies a good start on the first leg. Bree Masters and Kristie Edwards worked hard to give Torrie Hunt a chance on the final leg.

Lewis brought Australia home in 42.75 seconds, for fifth place – which became fourth when Cote d’Ivoire, were disqualified in fourth.

But Canada, fourth in heat 2 with 42.50 seconds and Netherlands, fifth in heat 2 with 42.64 pushed Australia out of the final places.

“I think we did our best, our second-best time ever. A great effort but of course disappointed,” Connolly said on Channel Nine.

Calab Law, the former Morayfield State High School student with Mayne Harriers, was on leg three for the men’s team in another tough heat.

Lachlan Kennedy and Jacob Despard gave Australia a useful start and Law handed over to Josh Azzopardi in the battle for the minor places.

Australia finished in 38.12 seconds, a national record and their season’s best. But Japan (38.06 in heat 2) and Italy (38.07 in heat two) pushed us out of the top eight.

Ironically, our time was faster than China, France and Canada posted as the three automatic qualifiers from heat two.

Tomorrow ....

Australia's women's water polo team, with Alice Williams and Charlize Andrews from North Brisbane Polo Bears at Albany Creek, will bid for a place in their final at 3.35am AEST tomorrow.

The Stingers face the US in a highly-anticipated semi-final.