Caster to attempt 800-1500m double at world championships in London
JOHANNESBURG: Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya is set to race for double gold at the IAAF World Championships in London after she requested to be entered for the 1500m at the global showpiece.
Semenya will be the third South African who will race a double at the championships, with world record holder Wayde van Niekerk going after the 200-400m double and Akani Simbine competing in the 100 and 200m.
Announcing the final world championships team following an appeal by athletes who were left out, Athletics South Africa (ASA) revealed in a circular that Semenya would attempt the double.
“Caster Semenya has appealed to be entered for the IAAF World Championships both the 800m and the 1500m,” the circular read.
“ASA has approved the appeal as Caster Semenya is the current CAA African Champion in the 800m and 1500m.”
Three more names were added to the team after the IAAF invited the South African women’s 4x400m relay team to participate in the championships.
Justine Palframan, Gena Lofstrand, and Ariane Nel will be part of the relay team that also includes Semenya and 400m hurdles ace Wenda Nel, who have already qualified.
World Student Games 400m champion Palframan will also be racing in the 200m, while Lofstrand will also compete in the 800m.
“We are proud to announce the additional names into our final team for these championships,” ASA president Aleck Skhosana said.
“We believe that this is one of our strongest teams ever for a global championship in recent years, with the selectors having focused on excellence in our team.
“We wish each athlete the best of luck and we trust they will beable to perform at their best at one of the highest stages of international athletics.”
ASA has come under severe criticism for largely omitting athletes who have met the IAAF standards for the world championships.
ASA defended its decision not to select all athletes who met the IAAF standards claiming its policy was “aligned with SRSA (Sport and Recreation South Africa) to present a winning team to support the vision of SRSA to be a winning nation.
Meanwhile, South African long jumper Luvo Manyonga’s chances of claiming the title at the world championships have improved after the withdrawal due to an ankle injury of defending champion, Greg Rutherford.
The 30-year-old Briton, also the 2012 Olympic champion, has been struggling with injury throughout the season.