Caster Semenya became the new darling of South African athletics when she won the gold medal in the 800 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin in an impressive style.
Semenya followed the same tactics as in the semi-finals and held off any challenges her opponents could muster to stride to an easy victory in 1:55,45 defeating Kenya’s Janeth Kepkosgei Busienei (1:57,90) and Britain’s Jennifer Meadows (1:54,93). Semenya’s time is a world leading performance for 2009 and also bettered her own South African record.
She went to the front from the start and kept her position with Kepkosgei when they passed the 400m mark in 56, 83 seconds. Immediately after the bell, she went ahead and gradually opened a gap. She entered the final straight well ahead and from then on it was clear that no one will keep her from the gold medal.
Semenya’s talents were first observed in 2007 when she clocked 2:09,35 and finished second at the National Schools Championships in Port Elizabeth. A few weeks later she finished fifth at the Southern African regional meeting.
In 2008 she went to the IAAF World Junior Championships and although she gained valuable experience, she was eliminated in the heats of the 800m. Three months later she won the 800m at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, in 2:04, 23 and evidence of her talents were clear. After completing her matric in Polokwane, she then moved to Pretoria to be with her new coach Michael Seme.
On 6 March this year she broke Zola Budd’s 25 year old junior record in the 800 metres when she clocked 2:00,58 at the Yellow Pages meeting in Germiston, and then followed with a world-class-performance of 1:56,72 at the African Junior Championships in Mauritius.
(source ASA)
Semenya followed the same tactics as in the semi-finals and held off any challenges her opponents could muster to stride to an easy victory in 1:55,45 defeating Kenya’s Janeth Kepkosgei Busienei (1:57,90) and Britain’s Jennifer Meadows (1:54,93). Semenya’s time is a world leading performance for 2009 and also bettered her own South African record.
She went to the front from the start and kept her position with Kepkosgei when they passed the 400m mark in 56, 83 seconds. Immediately after the bell, she went ahead and gradually opened a gap. She entered the final straight well ahead and from then on it was clear that no one will keep her from the gold medal.
Semenya’s talents were first observed in 2007 when she clocked 2:09,35 and finished second at the National Schools Championships in Port Elizabeth. A few weeks later she finished fifth at the Southern African regional meeting.
In 2008 she went to the IAAF World Junior Championships and although she gained valuable experience, she was eliminated in the heats of the 800m. Three months later she won the 800m at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, in 2:04, 23 and evidence of her talents were clear. After completing her matric in Polokwane, she then moved to Pretoria to be with her new coach Michael Seme.
On 6 March this year she broke Zola Budd’s 25 year old junior record in the 800 metres when she clocked 2:00,58 at the Yellow Pages meeting in Germiston, and then followed with a world-class-performance of 1:56,72 at the African Junior Championships in Mauritius.
(source ASA)