Caster narrowly misses out on Zola Budd’s record

Caster Semenya charged to an impressive victory in the 2,000m at the Montreuil meeting in France on Tuesday night, narrowly missing out on legendary runner Zola Budd’s record.

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Semenya was competing in her first race since she won the women’s 800m battle at the IAAF World Athletics Diamond League in Doha last month.

The double Olympic champion coasted home in a time of 5:38.19 to win the women’s 2, 000m contest in Montreuil, narrowly missing out on the record set by Budd in Cape Town in April 1991.

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Semenya holds national records over every distance from 400m to 1, 500m, and will in future look to have another go to break Budd’s long-standing 28-year record.

She has been given the green light to participate in middle-distance events until June 25 while an ongoing appeal against international gender rules is heard in Swiss courts.

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Semenya is expected to compete again in the 3, 000m race at the World Athletics Diamond League meeting in Stanford, United States on June 30.

“This is a good platform for her preparation for the 3, 000m at the Diamond League and it also keeps the world aware that she remains in top form and very much competitive,” said Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa.