ATHLETICS NEWS - With 200m to go in the 800m World Championships final in London, Caster Semenya had South Africans just a little panicked. But when she unleashed her characteristic final kick down the home straight, nobody could come between the Olympic champion and the gold.
Semenya crossed the line in a new national record and world leading time of 1:55.16 to reclaim the title she first won in 2009. And with that she elevated South Africa from eighth to third on the overall medal table, extending their record haul at these championships even further.
Burundi’s Olympic silver medallist Francine Niyonsaba had to be content with second place once again in 1:55.92, while American Ajee Wilson took bronze in 1:56.65.
Semenya soaked up the victory, telling the London crowd how much she loved them and then doing an extended lap of honour, posing for photos with fans as she went.
“This is the best I have ever produced in my life. 1:55.16 is eighth on the all-time world list so I’m quite thrilled. It’s an amazing feeling to be among the best in the world,” said Semenya afterwards.
“I knew it might be a fast race or it could be a slow race but I had to prepare my guns for the last 200m. I give credit to them [Niyonsaba and Wilson] – they ran a fantastic race.”
Semenya admitted to a few nerves before the race but said listening to one of her favourite songs – I’m no longer a slave to fear – helped to calm those.
“They are all great runners and I knew that coming in so I tried to control the nerves as much as I could. I’m a Christian and love music so I use it to calm me down. I knew if I could hang on to the last 100m, I could do anything.”
That she certainly did, powering to the front to take her third 800m world title. Apart from her 2009 win, the 2011 world title also belongs to Semenya after the initial winner of that race, Mariya Savinova, was stripped of the title for doping.
Semenya will leave London with two medals after her bronze in the 1500m – the first time she’s competed in that event at international level. Asked if she intends to continue with the 1500 as well as the 800, the 26-year-old reckoned: “Of course. This was just the beginning. If you are a student and you write an essay, you have an introduction, body and conclusion – so I would say this was just the introduction.
As for what kind of response there might be back in South Africa to the team’s phenomenal performance at these championships, Semenya added: “Of course South Africans are proud. I know they are jumping up and down now. It’s just all about giving back to them – they deserve this. Also for the younger generation, inspiring them and showing them anything is possible if you work hard and believe.”
Meanwhile, earlier in the afternoon, Lebogang Shange pulled off the surprise of the championships for the SA team with fourth place in the men’s 20km walk. The 27-year-old just missed out on a medal by 14 seconds but his time of 1:19.18 saw him bettering his own South African record by close to a minute.
“I sat down and I worked so hard. I planned to relax… I was patient. After 12km I kicked and knew I could do it and get to the front,” he said afterwards. “I just needed to believe and show the guys… The guys still had some fuel in their tank but I gave it my best.
