IN GOLD COAST
Rather than reignite the hormonal debate on permissible testosterone levels, Kenyan runners opted to draw positives from Tuesday night’s 1,500 metres final won by controversial South African Caster Semenya in a new Commonwealth Games record time.
Semenya, bidding to become only the third woman in the history of these games to complete a 1,500m and 800m double, blasted through the Carrara Stadium finish line under a slight drizzle in four minutes, 0.71 seconds with Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech bagging silver in a personal best 4:03.09.
Mary Wangari finished ninth in a season’s best 4:05.88.
Kenya was down to two runners after pre-championship favourite Winny Chebet tripped and was eliminated from the semis, with Semenya comfortable to run tucked in the pack before striking with 200m to go.
Chepkoech responded but couldn’t catch the turbo-charged champion from Polokwane who opened up a 20-metre gap as she pumped her way across the finish line.
Chepkoech’s silver was Kenya’s fourth medal in gold Coast, in what is turning out to be a poor showing by Team Kenya. The country is still waiting for it’s first gold medal of the 2018 ‘Club’ Games.
Interestingly, Chepkoech, a steeplechase specialist and fourth over the water and barriers at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was only trying out the 1,500m race which she doesn’t fancy as her favourite event.
“In fact, I will be going back to the steeplechase after this, because that’s my favourite race,” she said.
Despite trailing the pace, Wangari wouldn’t take the bait when asked if she thought it was unfair to have Semenya compete in women’s events, especially with huge concerns over her hyperandrogenism.
Studies conducted just as her career took off at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin indicated that Semenya suffered a chromosomal abnormality that gives her both male and female characteristics.
Medical reports indicated that the South African “has no womb or ovaries,” and also “has internal testes.”
Medical reports indicated that the South African “has no womb or ovaries,” and also “has internal testes.”
But that’s an old story now with the 27-year-old Semenya, who married her long-term girlfriend Violet Raseboya in January last year, winning two Olympic 800m titles and three world titles.
“Looking at the positive side, whenever we run against Semenya, she pushes us to run very good times, with many able to clock personal bests whenever she is in the race,” Wangari, who will do the pacemaking for the 3,000m at next month’s Doha Diamond League meeting, said.
Semenya was beaten to the gold medal at last year’s World Championships by Kenya’s Olympic champ Faith Chepng’etich, who is on currently maternity leave, and said she has been focusing on her endurance in order to double.
“It is difficult and I have prepared (for the 800m and 1,500m) with more endurance. It is quite difficult but I have to lead by example…hopefully this will motivate other athletes in South Africa.”
IMALI THROUGH
Kenya had another bright spot Tuesday night when Maximila Imali won her 400m semi-final in 51.52 to make it to Wednesday’s final.
Gilbert Koech finished eighth in the decathlon with 7,009 points as Grenada’s Victor Lindon took gold with 8,303 points followed by Canada’s Pierce Lepage (8,171) and Australia’s Cedric Dubler (7,983).
“This has been a great learning experience and I will now go back and focus on my jumps,” said Koech, an instructor at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo.
“With more exposure to these championships, I believe Kenya can do very well in the decathlon and heptathlon,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s rugby squads landed in Gold Coast after their exploits at last weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens tournament.
Barnabas Korir, the head of Kenya’s delegation here, saying Janet Owino underwent a successful operation after a leg fracture in Hong Kong.
“She was admitted two days ago for an operation which was successful and she is recovering at the Commonwealth Games Village awaiting a review on Friday,” Korir said.
Kenya also lost badminton player Mercy Joseph who tore her ligaments at the ankle joint yesterday, pulling out of the singles tournament.
“She has been treated but examination is still going on to determine if an operation to repair the ligament is needed,” said Korir.
There were early departures Tuesday with the triathlon athletes and coaches along with the weightlifting team on the early flight back home.