SEMENYA IS ON FIRE
SOUTH AFRICAN RUNS INCREDIBLE 800M WHILE BRITS ENJOY A FLURRY OF PBS ON THE COTE D’AZUR
WITH ANOTHER powerful run, Caster Semenya continued her impressive build-up to Rio. The South African ran the fastest women’s 800m for eight years and revealed she plans to tackle the 400m and 800m double at the Olympics.
It was a night that also saw PBs from British athletes Eilidh Doyle, Steph Twell and Charlie Grice, while Lynsey Sharp was only narrowly outside her best in Semenya’s race and Mo Farah had the distinction of beating Asbel Kiprop in the 1500m but in a time that was about three seconds slower than he has run at this meeting in the past.
Caster Semenya: fastest time in the world since 2008
JEAN-PIERRE DURAND
The meeting was the first Diamond League event for a month following a break to allow events like the European Championships and US Olympic Trials take place.
It also took place at the Stade Louis II arena just a day after the tragic events in nearby Nice, which meant a minute’s silence was held and the athletes wore black ribbons.
Making things look easy, Semenya clocked a 1:55.33 South African record for the fastest 800m time in the world since 2008. After 56.04 by the pacemaker for 400m, the 25-year-old went through 600m in 1:27.08 before crossing the line to improve on a PB that was almost seven years old. She led the field to a host of PB performances.
Dafne Schippers: comfortable 100m win in 10.94
“I was expecting to run under 1:56. I am looking forward to gold in Rio,” said Semenya. “You have to believe in yourself, and that’s what I did today.”
The 25-year-old is in terrific form this year and looks unbeatable, but her results are causing controversy due to the questions that have been raised over her gender since she won the 2009 world title in Berlin.