PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates her victory of the Women's 800m during the IAAF Diamond League meeting at the stade Charlety in Paris, France on June 30, 2018 (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Home » Caster Semenya Breaks 18-Year South African 400m Record, Dream Come True

Caster Semenya Breaks 18-Year South African 400m Record, Dream Come True

Led by Caster Semenya, South Africa produced another dominant performance on Friday’s third day of the 21st CAA African Senior Championships, raking in another nine medals as they extended their lead at the top of the overall table in Asaba, Nigeria. Semenya again showed her class by smashing the South African record in the 400m […]

By SAPeople
04-08-18 17:46
in Fab South African Stuff
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 30: Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates her victory of the Women's 800m during the IAAF Diamond League meeting at the stade Charlety in Paris, France on June 30, 2018 (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Led by Caster Semenya, South Africa produced another dominant performance on Friday’s third day of the 21st CAA African Senior Championships, raking in another nine medals as they extended their lead at the top of the overall table in Asaba, Nigeria.

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 30: Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates her victory of the Women’s 800m during the IAAF Diamond League meeting at the stade Charlety in Paris, France on June 30, 2018 (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Semenya again showed her class by smashing the South African record in the 400m final, storming across the line in 49.96sec to become the first SA woman to dip under 50 seconds in the one-lap dash.

She broke the previous mark held by Heide Seyerling, which had stood for nearly 18 years.

‘It’s always been my dream to run under 50, and I think it was the right time. The conditions suited me,’ said Semenya, who was nearly a full second ahead of her nearest opponent. ‘For me, it’s always about having fun and waiting for the right time to execute.’

Semenya is set to compete again in the 800m and 4x400m relay events on Saturday and Sunday.

The national squad relay took no prisoners in the 4x100m relay, charging home in 38.25sec, with Commonwealth 100m champion Akani Simbine, Simon Magakwe, Emile Erasmus and Commonwealth silver medallist Henricho Bruintjies missing the SA record by just 0.01.

‘The more we believe in each other, the better we become,’ Bruintjies said. ‘This is an individual sport but by coming together as a team there are more medals up for grabs, and I think we’re all understanding that now and showing up for the relays.’

Delivering a medal double, high jumper Chris Moleya bagged silver after clearing 2.26m to equal his personal best, and Mpho Links also stepped on the podium, with his best attempt of 2.15m earning him the bronze.

In other disciplines, Thapelo Phora set a personal best of 45.14sec to grab the silver medal in the men’s 400m final and Fredriech Pretorius finished second in the decathlon with 7,733 points.

Cornel Fredericks also took silver in the 400m hurdles final, Ischke Senekal earned bronze in the women’s discus and long jump star Lynique Beneke took bronze in her specialist discipline.

With two days of competition left, South Africa have a total of 17 medals in the bag: five gold, seven silver and five bronze.

Photo: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image