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Caster Semenya Wins Women's 800, Doesn't Break Stride Over New IAAF Rule

Published by
DyeStat.com   May 27th 2018, 5:16pm
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By Andrew Millbrooke for DyeStat

EUGENE --  With another emphatic and dominating performance, South Africa’s Caster Semenya beat an elite women’s 800-meter field Saturday at the 44th Prefontaine Classic, winning her 23rd straight race in the fastest time ever run in the United States -- 1:55.92.  

However, Semenyas grip on the event might not last much longer. 

The controversial Semenya has hyperandrogenism, a condition that causes elevated testosterone levels. A new ruling by the IAAF may force Semenya to take hormone medication to lower her testosterone levels in order to compete. The IAAF has ruled that as of Nov. 1, “it will limit entry for all international events from 400 meters through the mile to women with testosterone levels above a specified level.” 

The ban has been called racist and discriminatory by the African National Congress -- and seemingly targets Semenya.

In a statement published by the Independent, IAAF president Sebastian Coe said it had “a responsibility to ensure a level playing field for athletes … where success is determined by talent, dedication and hard work rather than other contributing factors. Our evidence and data show that testosterone, either naturally produced or artificially inserted into the body, provides significant performance advantages in female athletes.”

An earlier IAAF ruling was challenged in the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) by Dutee Chand, a sprinter from India, and was overturned before the 2016 Olympics. Semenya won her second straight gold medal in those Rio Games and has been unbeatable over 800 meters since. The 27-year-old Semenya is used to controversy, after first gaining international acclaim by running 1:55.45 as an 18-year-old in 2009 to win her first World Championship.

On Saturday, Semenya positioned herself directly behind the pacesetter and came through the first lap in 57.99, with her two main rivals positioned directly behind her; Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and American Ajee’ Wilson.  Semenya never faltered on the second lap, running consistent the entire way for an almost even split with a 57.93 second lap.

The powerful Semenya looked controlled and smooth throughout the race and was barely winded after finishing.

“I saw the split was 57,” Semenya said. “I tried to maintain 57 again, see what I could come up with, so it was just an amazing race.”

Semenya did not directly address the IAAF ruling, but offered a motivational statement of sorts.

“I think when you live life, you gain experience,” Semenya said. “I’ve been in this world almost three decades now. I am a sports science student. I’ve learned about everything since I’m in sports, and I want to inspire people and inspire the youth to show them that if you believe, anything is possible.”

Semenya’s time also eclipsed Mozambique legend and Pre Classic great Maria Mutola for the meet record. Mutola won the women’s 800 meters an astonishing 16 years in a row at the Pre Classic and the Outstanding Athlete award is named in her honor.

Burundis Niyonsaba stayed in great position behind Semenya, but had nothing in the tank down the final straightaway as she faded to third place in 1:56.88, just .02 behind Wilson. 

“That was the first meet. it is really difficult to control,” Niyonsaba said. “I’m very happy. I’m not worried about time. I know we have a lot of time to run faster.”

Niyonsaba finished second to Semenya in the last two major championship meets.  She is focused on running faster than ever. 

“I need to run my PB, maybe at the end of June,” Niyonsaba said.  “I will go everywhere the competition is.”

Wilson, the U.S. record holder, was positioned nicely throughout the race and was just off of the shoulder of Niyonsaba and moved very well in the final 100 meters. She was unable to track down Semenya. 

Wilson was visibly tired after the race, leaning over and breathing heavily in the mixed zone during the interview.

“I was able to get second this time around,” said Wilson, who took bronze in the World Championships last summer. “Still a couple errors in the race, but I’m happy I ran as fast as I did and got second place.”

Wilson thought she could have been closer to Semenya with 200 meters remaining.

“With 200 meters to go, I let another runner in front of me and I think if I didn’t let that happen I wouldn’t have had as much to make up and I would have been closer on the pace,” she said.

Wilson is ready for the long season and is looking forward to the U.S. Championships at the end of June and the rest of the Diamond League schedule in July and August.

“I’m super happy where I’m at right now fitness wise,” Wilson said. “So looking ahead, it’s about improving a little bit and maintaining.”

Former Oregon Duck Raevyn Rogers received one of the loudest ovations of the day and ran gamely, finishing seventh in 1:59.36. The time was just off Rogers’ PR of 1:59.10, set when she broke the collegiate record last year.

The 21-year-old is excited to be graduating in two weeks and become a full-time professional runner. 

“I’m pretty proud with today,” Rogers said. “I wanted to make sure going into this race that I had a clean race, that I executed my plan and that I ran faster than I did last time. In Boston I ran 2:01 and today I ran 1:59, so I’m really excited.”

On running her last race at this version of Hayward Field before reconstruction starts this summer, Rogers was just happy to get the chance.

“I usually don’t smile at the line, but today I had to smile,” Rogers said. “Just to be back home and be welcomed again by the crowd. The same crowd that was probably at the triple crown is back here supporting me run my individual race. It’s great.” 

Semenya pulled the entire field to fast early season times as seven women broke 2 minutes. Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia, 20, finished fourth in 1:57.78. Wilson's training partner, Charlene Lipsey, was fifth in 1:58.35 and Kenya’s Margaret Wambui, the World U20 champion at Hayward Field in 2014, finished sixth in 1:58.67.



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