Results

RIO DE JANEIRO (SMU) – Former SMU women's track and field standout Lovisa Lindh narrowly missed advancing to the finals in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics on Thursday night at Olympic Stadium.

Running the fastest race of her career, the SMU alum set a lifetime best of 1 minute, 59.41 seconds to finish fourth in the second of three heats and 10th overall.

"I'm so happy! It was as close to a finals place, but it's crazy. First time for two minutes, as I promised yesterday, and it was not far from the Swedish record. I did everything I could and am so happy with what I have achieved," Lindh said to TV3 of Sweden.

Lindh has steadily improved over the summer as she has set a personal-best the last four times she has stepped on the track.

In the qualifying rounds on Wednesday, she qualified for the semifinals after she placed second in her heat with a time of 2:00.04 to break her previous record (2:00.31) set at the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, in which she earned the bronze medal.

The Swedish middle-distance runner showed poise throughout the race as she stayed in the back of the pack before making a move with 200 meters to go. Down the straightaway, Lindh made a surge towards the front but was unable to secure one of the two automatic qualifying spots into the finals.

Joanna Jozwik (1:58.93) of Poland and Melissa Bishop (1:59.05) of Canada finished first and second, respectively.  Selina Buchel (1:59.35) of Switzerland placed third just ahead of Lindh.