Semenya set to make last-ditch bid for Tokyo

CASTER Semenya is set to make a lastditch bid for Olympic qualification at the African Athletics Championships in Nigeria at the end of the month.

Two-time 800m Olympic gold medallist Semenya is attempting to make it to the Tokyo Games in the 5 000m event.

She is currently barred from running distances between 400m and the mile by World Athletics regulations for female athletes with naturally occurring high testosterone levels.

Semenya tried to breach the required time of 15 minutes and 10 seconds in a special meeting in Durban last Friday, but due to a strong wind, she was unable to qualify – although she posted a new personal best of 15:32.15.

But there's still hope for the 30-yearold to make it to Japan. According to Athletics South Africa's track and field commission chairperson Jean Verster, the governing body are trying to arrange a meeting at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium next Saturday for middle and long-distance athletes to have another opportunity to qualify for the Olympics.

Apart from Semenya, men's long-distance stars Precious Mashele and Mbuleli Mathanga are still hoping to make it in either the 5 000m or 10 000m.

Verster said during the ASA press conference in Johannesburg yesterday that the big goal for Semenya will be the African championships.

“The athletes left here – you mentioned Caster and Precious – we are setting up a meeting at Green Point Stadium next Saturday, specifically for those athletes,” said Verster, who used to be Semenya's coach.

“There will only be a few events. Obviously we will try to have a 5 000m and 10 000m race.

“For the longer distances, it is very, very difficult. We have checked the long-term weather, and it looks like good weather (for Cape Town).”