African 400m champ Caster Semenya has tough competition at Continental Cup
Semenya, one of two favourites in the 800m, is the only South African to carry the favourite tag into the competition
Caster Semenya will have a tough time in the women’s 400m at the IAAF Continental Cup competition in Ostrava‚ Czech Republic‚ on Saturday‚ going up against two faster runners. Semenya is the African champion in the one-lap race‚ but the continental queens from Asia-Pacific and Americas‚ Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain and Shakima Wimbley of the US‚ stand between her and glory. Semenya won the African showpiece in Nigeria in 49.96sec‚ and although the IAAF has yet to accept that time‚ it’s well behind world No2 Naser’s 49.08 and the 49.52 of world No3 Wimbley. Including Europe there are four continental teams in all‚ with each outfit entering two athletes into each discipline. The provisional team lists were released by the IAAF on Tuesday evening. Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi are the favourites in the women’s 800m on the final second day of competition on Sunday. In total there are 20 SA competitors in the African team‚ but none of the others will take the favourite’s tag in...
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