Caster Semenya new 800m Star
JOHANNESBURG, Friday, 17 October 2008:- Athletics South Africa announced today that South Africa’s Caster Semenya starred on the final day of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, when she stormed to the gold medal in the 800 metres in an outstanding time and new Games record of 2:04,23.
South Africa’s athletes had a gold medal haul on the final day of the Games bagging four gold medals and one silver. In total South African athletes won 11 medals at the Games consisting of 4 gold,5 silver and 2 bronze medals. Team South Africa won a total of 21 medals consisting of 5 gold,10 silver and 6 bronze.
The 17-year old Semenya became the second fastest South African woman athlete in the 800 metres this year behind another new prospect, Juanee Cilliers, who in July set a time of 2:03,38 in Europe and their duels in the new track season can inject new life in the event.
Semenya led the pack at the 400m mark in 62,85 secs and at the 600m mark in l:33,82 before she stormed home to the 11th fastest time by a junior athlete in the world this year.
Further Caster Semenya data:
Semenya Stuns while Kamel provides family double
South Africa’s Caster Semenya has had to overcome enormous odds over the last few days regarding her gender and before starting the Women’s 800m final at the Berlin World Championships she made the simple gesture of ‘brushing everything off her shoulders’.
Further data: 2009 – South African Athletics on the UP? Caster Semenya runs 1:56
Further discussion about Caster Semenya’s gender – at bottom of article
Windy Jonas won the gold medal in the 800 metres in a time of 1:50,72 while Willem Voigt struck gold in the high jump with a height of 2,11m. Stefan Brits came away with the gold medal in the long jump with a jump of 7,38m.
The boys 4x400m relay team won the silver medal in a time of 3:14,01.
On the first two days of the Games silver medals were won by Stefan Brink (18,41m in the shot put), Cornel Fredericks (13,99secs in the 110m hurdles),Cheyne Rahme (5,20m in the pole vault) and Marizette Badenhorst (50,92m in the hammer throw) while Boipelo Motlhatlhego (15,20m in the triple jump) and Windy Jonas (3:49,41 in the 1500m) finished in bronze medal positions.
A summary of the results of the team is as follows:
BOYS
400m Heats: Dean Swart 5th 50,46 secs Qual. Semifinal
Semifinal: Dean Swart 6th 49,24 secs DNQ for final
800m :Heats: Windy Jonas 2nd 1:52,56 Qual. for final
Final: Windy Jonas 1st 1:50,72 GOLD MEDAL
1500m Heats: Windy Jonas 4th 3:53,83 Qual. For final
Folavia Sehohle 2nd 3:49,56 Qual. For Final
Final: Windy Jonas 3rd 3:49,41 BRONZE MEDAL
Folavia Sehohle 4th 3:49,43
5000m Final: Sityhilo Diko 12th 15:23,92
110mH Heats: Corneil Fredericks 2nd 14,38 secs Qual for Final
Final Corneil Fredericks 2nd 13,99 secs SILVER MEDAL
4X100m Heats: RSA 2nd 41,73 secs Qual. for Final
Final: RSA 4th 41,32 secs
4X400m Final: RSA 2nd 3:14,01 SILVER MEDAL
High Jump Qual.R: Willem Voigt 1,95m Qual. for Final
Final: Willem Voigt 1st 2,11m GOLD MEDAL
Pole Vault: Cheyne Rahme 2nd 5,20m SILVER MEDAL
Long Jump Qual.R:Stefan Brits 7,24m Qual for Final
Final: Stefan Brits 1st 7,38m GOLD MEDAL
Triple Jump: Boipelo Mothlatlhego 3rd 15,20m BRONZE MEDAL
Shot Put: Stephan Brink 2nd 18,41m SILVER MEDAL
Javelin: Ulrich Doman 4th 64,37m
GIRLS
100m Heats: Arlene Gowar 1st 12,14 secs Qual. Semifinal
Bevin Smith 2nd 12,21 secs Qual Semifinal
Semifinals: Arlene Gowar 3rd 11,99 secs Qual. Final
Bevin Smith 3rd 12,15 secs DNQ Final Final: Arlene Gowar 5th 12,02 secs
200m Heats: Arlene Gowar 1st 24,77 secs Qual semifinals
Bevin Smith DNF
Semifinal: Arlene Gowar 2nd 24,78 secs Qual. Final
Final: Arlene Gowar 7th 24,84 secs
400m Heats: Sonja v d Merwe 2nd 57,33 secs Qual. Semifinals
Semifinal: Sonja v d Merwe 4th 55,85 secs Qual. Final
Final: Sonja vd Merwe 6th 56,07 secs
800m Heats: Caster Semenya 1st 2:08,14 Qual./Games record
Final: Caster Semenyta 1st 2:04,23 GOLD MEDAL/Games Record
1500m Heats: Caster Semenya 9th 5:17,19 DNQ Final
3000m Final: Sylvia Tshetlanyana 12th 10:30,57
100mH Heats: Ansulet Potgieter 2nd 14,10 secs Qual. Final
Final: Ansulet Potgieter 4th 14,22 secs
4X100m Heats: RSA 2nd 41,11 secs Qual Final
Final: RSA 4th 46,90 secs
Shot Put: Elzaan Mostert 5th 13,71m
Hammer Marizette Badenhorst 2nd 50,92m SILVER Medal
Further data: 2009 – South African Athletics on the UP? Caster Semenya runs 1:56
Further discussion about Caster Semenya’s gender – at bottom of article
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