Semenya falls well short in bold bid at world 5000m

EUGENE, OREGON – JULY 20: Caster Semenya of Team South Africa competes in the Women’s 5000m heats on day six of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 20, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Caster Semenya’s first appearance in a world championship in five years on Wednesday saw the controversy-mired South African fail to qualify for the women’s 5000m finals.

In roasting mid-afternoon temperatures, Semenya finished 13th in the first of two rounds at Hayward Field, Eugene, in 15:46.12, more than 45sec off the 15th and final qualifying place.

“Cooking!” said Semenya post-race. “It was hot, I could not keep up with the pace, I tried to stick as much as I can, but you know, it is a part of the game.

“I think it is great to be able to run here,” she added. “Just being able to finish the 5k, for me it is a blessing. I am learning and I am willing to learn even more.”

Her time was far off the heat-winning 14:52.64 set by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay, fresh from her silver in the 1500m.

Semenya sat 13th of the 18-strong field as Japan’s Kaede Hagitani set the early pace in her heat.

When a nine-strong pack broke clear, it was clear Semenya would not be part of the breakaway and she quickly fell to a full 80 metres off the lead with 2km to go.

That has increased to a clear 100 metres as American Karissa Schweizer hit the lead with three laps to run.

Tsegay kicked and led a pack of five through the bell with Semenya a distant figure 300 metre off the pace.

The South African last competed at a world championships in London in 2017 where she won her third 800m world crown.

A year later she won double gold in the 800m and 1500m