Semenya to press for record attempt?
Breaking 1983 mark on her the to-do list, but Caster won’t rush it
MAKING the world her oyster, Caster Semenya has her sights on the more than three-decades old 800-metre world record held by former Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova.
The South African won her third world title on Sunday evening, adding to the gold from Berlin 2009 and Daegu 2011, tying her with her former coach Maria Mutola of Mozambique at the top of the all-time 800m world championships honours board.
Although Semenya has always been reluctant to talk about her ambitions to break the world record, she admitted the global mark featured on her to-do list.
“The world record is achievable but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be able to run a fast time like that, and we haven’t planned to run faster than that,” Semenya said.
“Obviously, I am in line to do Lebogang Shange produced one of South Africa’s gutsiest and inspiring performances of the championships when he came within striking distance of winning a 20-kilometre Race Walk medal.
Moving like a man possessed, Shange went from 20th position at the halfway mark, trailing by 30 seconds to move into the lead with 3km to go.
The gutsy little walker finished just 14 seconds behind the bronze medallist, but there is certainly no shame in fourth place when nobody gave you a chance, with Shange also breaking the national record in the process. that but I am a patient athlete and the most important thing is to win as much as I can, focusing more on winning medals. So, the world record is not yet in my plans.”
Crossing the line in a new South African record time of 1:55.16, she edged slightly closer to track and field’s longest standing record of 1:53.28. Semenya moved into eighth place on the world all-time list, becoming the second fastest African athlete behind former Kenyan world champion Pamela Jelimo (1:54.01).
Semenya’s coach, Jean Verster, said breaking the world featured low down their list of priorities.
“For the last three years we’ve had this attitude of racing, and enjoying what we are doing and trying to win titles,” Verster said after his charge added the 800m gold to the 1500m bronze from earlier last week.
“I’m a firm believer that the time when it comes, she feels good at the moment. It’s almost impossible, that is such a quick record, if the race is quick and the other competitors are medal-haul in the same final at the global showpiece.
Samaai hovered outside a podium place after four rounds before leaping to third place on his fifth jump, securing the bronze with his final leap of 8.32m to give South Africa a memorable near-sweep of the medals. The buildup to the championships centred around Jamaican sprinting legend Bolt’s final hurrah.
Bowing out with the 100m bronze medal did little to tarnish a career which included seven individual world titles and six individual Olympic golds.
Instead it enhanced his legend give us mere mortals hope that our heroes are not infallible.
Bolt’s showmanship, but more importantly his athletic ability, will be missed. Here is to the greatest of all time! also going for it, if the pacemakers are going for it, she will make an attempt.”
Two of the athletes who could aid Semenya in a world-record attempt, flanked her sitting at the winners table late on Sunday evening after the gripping final.
Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and American middle-distance ace Ajee Wilson gave Semenya a good run for her money in the last two races the trio lined up against each other.
Niyonsaba again had to be content with second place after she and Wilson began the race fast.
Semenya had too much kick left in her legs as she blew the duo off the track in the final 30m to bag the title. Niyonsaba followed behind her in a time of 1:55.99 with Wilson bagging bronze in 1:56.65.
Verster said before they could even consider the world record, Semenya would first have to dip below 1:55.
“It’s almost like baby steps. Our first goal, and I know the other girls Botswana’s Isaac Makwala hogged the headlines at the championships, becoming one of the crowd favourites while sparking a viral social media trend.
Makwala missed out on the 400m after he was placed under 48-hours quarantine following a confirmed outbreak of norovirus among athletes at the championships, but featured in the 200m final.
After initially missing out on the heats, Makwala was given the option of a time-trial in pouring rain to qualify for the semi-finals.
Makwala dipped below the required time, the one-arm sleeve-wearing athlete dropped to the track and entertained the crowd with a few press ups.
Imitating Makwala, fans from around the world wore from plastic bags to socks on their arms doing pushups in social media videos. as well are all thinking, let’s get under 1:55 first,” Verster said.
“If we can get somewhere below 1:55, then we know we are a bit closer but only when there are good pacemaking, good weather, and the rest of the competition working together, we will see those 1:54s coming.”
Semenya was a relaxed figure at these championships where she interacted with the crowd while she walked the gauntlet of awaiting journalists in the mixed zone.
After fielding a few questions at the post-race press conference, Semenya insisted the media pose questions to Niyonsaba sitting quietly to her right.
A shy-looking Niyonsaba playfully nudged Semenya with the elbow for putting her in the spotlight.
“She (Semenya) is maturing as a person, and growing, I’ve said it many, many times that Caster is maybe one of the nicest people you would meet in your life,” Verster said.
“If people can only see the real Caster, they would also change their opinions.”