Semenya claims third world 800M title
london — South African Caster Semenya, dogged by gender accusations since shooting to fame in 2009, won a third world title in the women’s 800m late on Sunday.
Semenya, the defending Olympic champion and also world champion in 2009 and 2011, timed 1min 55.16sec, the fastest time of the year so far.
Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, the Olympic silver medallist and world indoor champion, finished second in 1:55.92, with American Ajee Wilson taking bronze (1:56.65).
“I just love you guys!” Semenya said in an address to the sellout 60,000 seater London Stadium crowd.
“It feels like home in London. I used to say Berlin was like my home. Obviously it is South Africa, but there are such fantastic people here. Beautiful.”
Semenya added: “I’m lucky to have a great support team who work with me. Full credit to them. Another world title is a fantastic honour for me and I love to do it here in London. “The crowd are so welcoming to me and it makes it feel even more special.”
Semenya hinted that it would now be time to tackle the world record of 1:53.28 set by Jarmila Kratochvilova back in 1983.
“We need to clear 1:55 first and it will require a lot of hard training,” she said. “I have Olympic, world and Commonwealth titles now so maybe it is time to target the world record. It’s the next thing on the list. I know it will be difficult but I will have to attempt it soon, maybe.”
In the race itself, Wilson went out fast, with Niyonsaba on her coattails and Semenya happy to sit back in the pack. The South African was fifth going through the bell in a fast pace of 57.98sec.
Wilson made a move with 250 metres to run, Kenya’s Olympic bronze medallist Margaret Wambui immediately falling off pace.
Hitting the home straight, Wilson and Niyonsaba were neck and neck before Semenya moved away to the finish. —