Controversial Semenya wins at Prefontaine meet
Caster Semenya won the women’s 800 meters at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford on Sunday, as an international court continues to debate her future in the event.
The former Olympic champion and embattled three-time world champ won in 1 minute, 55.70 seconds, nearly three seconds ahead of second-place Ajee Wilson. It’s the fastest-time ever on American soil.
“We’re happy with the win but not how we ran the race,” Semenya said.
It was the first time Semenya ran the 800 since a Swiss Supreme Court ruled her eligible while it considers her appeal against a new IAAF rule capping testosterone levels in women’s events.
One of a handful of runners affected by the ruling, Semenya has been fighting back. The 28-year-old South African refused to take medication to be in compliance and initially planned to side-step it at the Prefontaine by registering to run the 3,000. She was eventually cleared in time for the seventh stop on the Diamond League circuit.
“When I run I forget about everything. It’s just all about me,” Semenya said. “It’s all about me being free. It’s all about me doing what I love. I treat people with respect and I appreciate them for who they are. I accept them. That’s what I do. For me it’s all about inspiring the youth so they can be better.”
What’s next for Semenya is uncertain. If the case drags on without a quick resolution, Semenya will be in line to defend her title at the World Championships in September. If the IAAF ruling is upheld, Semenya’s appearance in the 800 at the Prefontaine may be her last.
“My goal is to defend my world title,” Semenya said. “If I’m not allowed, I’m not allowed. I don’t give a damn. This is a legal battle. It’s like war. You don’t give up. I’m a world champ, I’m an Olympic champion. I’ve achieved everything that I’ve ever wanted. At the end of the day I’m just doing it for those that cannot fight for themselves.”
Soccer
ANOTHER SHUTOUT FOR USMNT >> Weston McKennie scored in the first half, and Zack Steffen made five saves as the U.S. men’s national team defeated Curacao 1-0 in the last quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Philadelphia.
The defending champion Americans will play Jamaica, a 1-0 win over Panama earlier in the day, in the semifinals on Wednesday in Nashville, with a spot in the July 7 final in Chicago at stake. The Reggae Boyz, who lost to the U.S. in the 2017 final, beat the Americans 1-0 in a June 5 friendly.
McKennie’s goal in the 25th minute stood thanks to Steffen, who had his fourth straight shutout in the tournament.
Golf
STRICKER WINS U.S. SENIOR OPEN IN DEBUT >> Steve Stricker made his U.S. Senior Open debut one for the record book.
Stricker birdied the opening hole and never was threatened on his way to a 1-under 69 for a sixshot victory. He finished at 19-under 261 on the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, breaking the U.S. Senior Open record — set two years ago by Kenny Perry at Salem Country Club — by three strokes.
The 52-year-old Stricker, who still spends half of his time on the PGA Tour, won a senior major for the second time this year. The victory gets Stricker into the U.S. Open next year at Winged Foot.
Jerry Kelly shot a 69 and tied for second with defending champion David Toms, who had a 68.
• Nate Lashley completed an unlikely wire-to-wire victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit for his first PGA Tour title.
Lashley, who is No. 353 in the world ranking and only got into the event as an alternate, closed with a 2-under 70 to finish at 25-under 263 and win by six shots.
Monday qualifier Doc Redman shot a 67 to finish second, followed by Rory Sabbatini (68) and Wes Roach (68) another stroke back.
• Sung Hyun Park twoputted for birdie on the par-5 18th to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season and seventh overall.
Park, who closed with a 5-under 66 to finish at 18-under 195 at Pinnacle Country Club, is projected to move from second to first in the world ranking today. She will take the top spot from Jin Young Ko.
Danielle Kang, Hyo Joo Kim and Inbee Park tied for a second, a stroke back.
• Christiaan Bezuidenhout closed with an evenpar 71 and won the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Sotogrande, Spain, for his first European Tour title. Bezuidenhout finished at 10-under 274, six strokes ahead of Jon Rahm and four others.
NHL
CANADIENS BUSY AHEAD OF FREE AGENCY >> With free agency beginning today, the Montreal Canadiens shedded some salary in the hopes of landing a big-name player.
Montreal dealt pesky forward Andrew Shaw back to the Blackhawks three years after they shipped him to the Canadiens. Shaw had 19 goals and a career-high 28 assists in 63 games last season. Montreal also sent checking-line forward Nicolas Deslauriers to the Anaheim Ducks.
The trades freed up $4.85 million in cap space for Montreal.
• NHL teams had until Sunday to waive players with the intent of buying out their contracts. The Edmonton Oilers parted ways with defenseman Andrej Sekera, and the Philadelphia Flyers did the same with defenseman David Schlemko. Vancouver center Ryan Spooner and Dallas forward Valeri Nichushkin cleared waivers and had their contracts bought out.
• The Carolina Hurricanes swapped goalies with the Florida Panthers, trading Scott Darling and a 2020 sixth-round draft pick for James Reimer. Florida immediately placed him on waivers with the intention to buy out his contract.
Motorsports
BOWMAN PICKS UP FIRST CUP VICTORY >> Alex Bowman held off Kyle Larson for his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Chicagoland Speedway.
Bowman had just six topfive finishes in 133 starts on NASCAR’s top series before his banner day on the bumpy 1.5-mile oval.
Larson passed Bowman with about seven laps left, but Bowman quickly regained the lead and smartly navigated his way to the victory.
Joey Logano, who entered with a one-point lead over Kyle Busch for the top spot in the series standings, finished third. Jimmie Johnson was fourth and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five.
• Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix for a second straight year as Red Bull ended Mercedes’ unbeaten streak this season.
The Dutchman recovered from a poor start to work his way to the front from eighth place, and overtook leader Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari with two laps to go.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas completed the podium, ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and championship leader Lewis Hamilton.
• Prominent motorcycle racer Carlin Dunne died after he crashed near the finish line at the 97th Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb — a race he had won four times — in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the seventh death associated with the Hill Climb.