Flagbearer woman of her word
GOLD COAST: South African flagbearer Caster Semenya powered to the 1500m title at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday night, keeping her bid for a golden double on the Gold Coast intact.
The 800m Olympic and world champion bided her time before burning away from the modest field to post a Games record time of 4min 0.72sec on a soggy track at Carrara Stadium.
Semenya, who will run for gold in the 800m, left Kenya’s silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech (4min 03.09sec) in her wake, with Wales’ Melissa Courtney taking the bronze.
Before arriving in Australia, Semenya promised to lead South Africa by example. She now hopes her commanding win will inspire her teammates.
‘‘Basically I’m more like a captain, so I need to show the guys that I’m a woman of my words,’’ the 27yearold told reporters after an evening session punctured by rain showers.
‘‘If I say I will do something I will do it. Also it’s just to motivate them so they can believe in themselves.
‘‘With 10 years of experience for me now I think I’m ready for anything.’’
Semenya’s gold continued a proud Games for South Africa on the track, following Akani Simbine’s 100m gold when he upstaged Jamaica’s favourite Yohan Blake on Monday.
Another African nation, Botswana, also denied Jamaica in the men’s 400m as the flamboyant Isaac Makwala blitzed the field with a quality time of 44.35sec.
With another bumper crowd roaring support, Makwala crossed the line with mouth agape and arms extended, well clear of runnerup compatriot Baboloki Thebe (45.09sec) and thirdplaced Jamaican Javon Francis.
Blake’s stumbling effort for a disappointing bronze put a dampener on the Jamaican team on Monday, but the athletics powerhouse hit back with golds in the 110m hurdles and the triple jump.
Ronald Levy led a Jamaican onetwo in the hurdles ahead of former world silver medallist Hansle Parchment, with local runner Nicholas Hough claiming bronze.
Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams also led a onetwo for the nation in the triple jump, leaping 14.64m on her final effort to pip her teammate, Shanieka Ricketts, by 12cm. Thea Lafond took the bronze for Dominica. — Reuters