MICHAEL SHERMAN
LONDON, August 13 (ANA) – South Africa’s Caster Semenya reclaimed her World Championship title with a stunning victory in the women’s 800m in a time of 1:55.16 at the IAAF World Championships on Sunday.
Burundian Francine Niyonsaba claimed silver in 1:55.92 and American Ajee Wilson took bronze in 1:56.65. Semenya improved her national record by 0.11 seconds she had set last month at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
The Olympic gold medallist adopted her well-known tactic of holding a place in the middle of the pack during the first lap with the athletes hitting the bell in 57.98 seconds, and it was at 600m that the top three broke away. The 26-year-old Semenya then produced a stunning kick down the final straight to annihilate the contenders and win the gold comfortably by a six metre margin.
Semenya added to the two gold medals she won in the event in 2009 and 2011. With the latest victory, the South African golden girl also matched Mozambican Maria Mutola’s mark of three world titles in the women’s 800m.
Semenya also joined Wayde van Niekerk with two medals at the world championship, after she claimed bronze in the 1500m on Monday.
The outstanding performance of Semenya capped off a highly successful competition for the nation as South Africa ended with six medals, including three golds.
Earlier in the day, Lebogang Shange produced a stunning performance to claim fourth in a new South African record in the men’s 20km Race Walk.
Shange finished less than 30 seconds behind Columbian winner Eider Arevalo as the SA walker crossed the line in a new national record of one hour 19 minutes and 18 seconds. His performance also smashed his previous personal best of 1:20:06. Arevalo won in 1:18:53, neutral athlete Sergei Shirobokov took silver in 1:18:55 with Brazilian Caio Bonfim holding on for bronze in 1:19:04.
The 27-year-old had not been expected to contend, but produced a late surge in the final few kilometres to join the leaders averaging an impressive 3:48 per km for his 18th km.
Having joined the leaders just after the hour mark, it looked like Shange was set to claim an unlikely medal.
In the final kilometre, however, Shange paid for his early surge as the leaders pulled away. Still it was an incredible performance from Shange as he came agonisingly close to claiming a surprise medal for his country. – African News Agency (ANA)
