Sport
Caster Semenya of South Africa qualifies for Olympics 800 m race
Semenya burst onto the scene by winning at the 2009 worlds as a teenager in a blistering time of 1:55.45 before a gender test controversy sidelined her for 11 months.
Semenya has overcome a string of setbacks since her stunning international debut.
After the enforced layoff while athletics’ governing body reviewed the gender test results, a niggling back injury in 2010 forced her to miss the Commonwealth Games and her relationship with then-coach Michael Seme broke down just before the 2011 worlds.
The 800-meter race Friday was Semenya’s third under new mentor and former Olympic champion Maria Mutola, but likely her last in South Africa before the Olympics.
Semenya will head to Europe next month to start her final buildup to the London Games. She is confirmed to run at the IAAF event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 25 and the Diamond League meeting in Rome on May 31, manager Jukka Harkonen said.
“I am very happy with the time, now I know what my plans for the European season are,” Semenya said. “I don’t have to rush now, you just have to be patient and wait for the Olympics.”
Copyright 2012 Associated Press.
