Semenya eases into 800m final

Caster Semenya, the South African runner whose presence in the 800 is controversial because of her high testosterone levels, breezed through her first 800-meter race Wednesday at the Rio Olympics.

She’ll have a day off before going head-to-head on Saturday (2:15am Sunday in SA) with Kate Grace (U.S.), Joanna Jóźwik (Poland), Margaret Wambui (Kenya), Francine Niyonsaba (Burundi), Amela Terzić (Serbia) and Wang Chunyu (China).

“The pace was a bit quicker than I thought but I just went with the flow”, Semenya said before playing down the world record prospects. In fact, she has been in such blistering form this year that she could end up shattering the event’s 33-year-old record set by Jarmila Kratochvílova of Czechoslovakia. Remember I just ran my PB a month ago.

Tall, loping 20-year-old Margaret Wambui, surprise victor of the Kenyan trials this year, looks as if she could be a medal challenger, as could Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, the world indoor champion, after the two went through together from the first semi. “I didn’t really follow my coach’s instructions, I got a little boxed (in) but I am so thankful I have one more chance”.

Some rivals have called for authorities to revisit rules aimed at setting limits for testosterone, claiming Semenya’s rare physiology gives her an unfair advantage.

“There’s nothing to lose now”, she said.

The runner took to social media just after securing her spot in the women’s 800m finals at the Games on Friday morning to acknowledge her supporters.

Semenya however shrugged off the controversy on Thursday after producing a late surge over the final 200 metres to advance from her semi-finals 1:58.15 at the Olympic Stadium ahead of Britain’s Lynsey Sharp.