Semenya breaks 25-year-old 800m African record

06 August 2018

World champion and TUT ambassador, Caster Semenya, led from the front again as South Africa continued their fine form on the final day of the 21st African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria.

Semenya took her second gold medal in Nigeria, this time in the women's 800m final on Sunday. The two-time Olympic champion stopped the clock in a time of 1:56.06 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

Semenya broke the African record held by her idol Maria Mutola - the Mozambican icon set her record at the 1993 African Championships in Durban (1:56.36).

Burundian, Francine Niyonsaba, took silver in 1:57.97 and Bayih Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia, took bronze in a time of 1:58.86.

On Friday, Caster smashed an 18-year-old national record previously held by Heide Seyerling in the women's 400m final - becoming the first SA woman to dip under 50 seconds.

Erikah Seyama, also a TUT student won gold in the high jump (women) (1.83m) at the 21st CAA African Senior Athletics Championships in Nigeria on 5 Aug 2018. She represented Swaziland at the Championships.

Story courtesy of Sport24.

Caster Semenya 
Erikah Seyama

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