Semenya dominates to run fastest 800m of year in US
OLYMPIC and world champion Caster Semenya put aside controversy and ran the fastest women’s 800m of the year at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on Saturday.
In the sprints, America’s Ronnie Baker upset compatriot Christian Coleman, the indoor 60m record holder, in the 100m in a wind-assisted 9.78 seconds while countryman Noah Lyles claimed the 200m in a personal best 19.69 seconds.
Semenya, whose middle-distance running career could be under threat because of a new IAAF hyperandrogenism rule, clocked 1:55.92 in a dominant performance as she ran the fastest 800m on American soil.
The IAAF rule, which is scheduled to become effective in November, would effectively give her a choice of taking medication to restrict her testosterone level or move to longer distance events. She has not lost an 800m race since 2015. “I don’t want to talk about it,” the double Olympic champion said when asked about the rule that South Africa may take to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“I’m here to perform,” she said. “To be honest I’m just an athlete. There is nothing I can do, there is nothing I can say about that.”
But after signing autographs, taking a victory lap to cheers from the sell-out crowd, she said that some day she might like to run a marathon.
“I just want to inspire people, and inspire the youth, to show them that if you believe, anything is possible,” Semenya said.
The triple world champion also said breaking the 800m world record of 1:53.28 set by Czechoslovakia’s Jamila Kratochvilova set in 1983 was on her to-do list.
“That is the plan. Now it is not about running hard, it is running smart,” the 27-year-old, who has a best of 1:55.16, said.
She also quashed any suggestions she could retire soon.
“If [sprinter] Kim Collins can run to age 40, what about me?” Semenya said.
Baker, the world indoor bronze medallist, pulled ahead of Coleman in the final 20m to win.
“I was really excited to be able to come out with a W. It gives me a lot of confidence,” Baker, who heads to Europe next, said.
Britain’s Reece Prescod was third.