Caster Semenya breaks Zola Budd’s 34-year-old SA track record
SOUTH AFRICAN flag-bearer Caster Semenya powered to the 1 500 metres title at the Commonwealth Games yesterday, keeping her bid for a golden double at 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 four minutes and 0.72 seconds on a soggy track at Carrara Stadium.
Semenya, who will run for gold in the 800m, left Kenya’s silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech (4:03.09) in her wake, with Wales’ Melissa Courtney taking the bronze.
Before arriving in Australia, Semenya promised to lead SA 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 27-year-old 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 SA 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 44.35secs.
With another bumper crowd roaring support, Makwala crossed the line with mouth agape and arms spread like an aeroplane, well clear of runner-up and compatriot Baboloki Thebe (45.09s) and third-placed Jamaican Javon Francis.
During the early hours yesterday, SA’s two prospective double-doubles in the long jump and the 200m advanced to the final and semi-finals respectively.
Long jump double act Ruswahl Samaai and Luvo Manyonga made easy work of the qualifying round.
World champion Manyonga landed one jump of 7.91m to earn his place in the final with Samaai also booking his place with a single attempt of 8.06m.
Half-lap sprint specialists Anaso Jobdwana and Clarence Munyai, who will be looking to follow up on Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies’ 100m gold-silver double, coasted through to the semi-final.
SA 200m record-holder Clarence Munyai trotted over the line in 20.95 to win his heat with 2015 world bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana also earning his spot topping his heat with a time of 20.89.
“I just wanted to get through the round, that is why I was looking around, I did something stupid in coming here and so my hamstring was feeling a bit tight,” Jobodwana said.
Jobodwana did not feel any tightness during the race, while Clarence said he also took it easy with an eye on pushing it hard in the semi-final.
“The semi-final is of course where I will kind of have to run fast… it felt really easy and cruise control all the way,” Munyai said.
Top female 400m hurdler Wenda Nel clocked a season’s best of 54.61 to qualifying for her final tomorrow. – Ockert de Villiers and Reuters