2016 Olympic GamesAug 5, 2016 by Dennis Young
Caster Semenya Scratches Olympic 400, Only Running 800 In Rio
Caster Semenya Scratches Olympic 400, Only Running 800 In Rio
According to a report in South African newspaper The Times, Caster Semenya is scratching the 400m in Rio. Coach Jean Vesters told FloTrack and other outle
According to a report in South African newspaper The Times, Caster Semenya is scratching the 400m in Rio. Coach Jean Vesters told FloTrack and other outlets in July that Semenya was attempting a 400m/800m double at the Olympic Games, but Vesters and Semenya have apparently decided that only running the 800m is the safest route.
Semenya only had a season best of 50.74 seconds--more than two seconds off the world lead--but that was part of a one-day 400/800/1500 triple. Her coach did tell Gordon Mack in Monaco that she split 49.3 on a relay earlier this season.
She most recently won the Monaco 800m in 1:55.33, a new personal best and just 0.07 off the No. 10 performer in world history. The world record is 1:53.28, and I hope she goes for it in Rio.
Semenya only had a season best of 50.74 seconds--more than two seconds off the world lead--but that was part of a one-day 400/800/1500 triple. Her coach did tell Gordon Mack in Monaco that she split 49.3 on a relay earlier this season.
She most recently won the Monaco 800m in 1:55.33, a new personal best and just 0.07 off the No. 10 performer in world history. The world record is 1:53.28, and I hope she goes for it in Rio.