Oscar Pistorius again missed the Olympic qualifying time in the 400 meters when he was second in his heat on the first day of the African championships on Wednesday.

The double-amputee runner crossed in 46.32 seconds in the tiny West African country of Benin, over a second outside the 45.30 he needs to run at least once more in an international meet to qualify for the London Games.

Pistorius finished behind Botswana’s Isaac Makwala and has a maximum of two more races, Thursday’s semifinal and then possibly the final at the continental championships, to meet South Africa’s qualifying criteria for the 400.

South African athletes have until Saturday to post qualifying times for the Olympics.

Women’s 400-meter world champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana easily won her heat in 50.42, while men’s 100 defending champion Ben Youssef Meite of Ivory Coast was disqualified for a false start in his first race at the championships.