Caster Semenya completed the 800m-1500m double unchallenged, winning the two-lap race with a new record, while Danniel Thomas Dodd proved equally brilliant in end the long reign of Valerie Admas in the shot put circle at the Carrara stadium here on Friday night.
South African Semenya was at ease all through; she registered a time of 1:56.68, leaving Magaret Wambui (Kenya) and Nataya Goule (Jamaica) panting in the second and third spots. It is only the third time that such a double like the one completed by Semenya has been accomplished in the history of the Games.
Valerie Adams (New Zealand) had come along to pick her fourth successive gold medal in women’s shot put, but was forced to return disappointed as Danniel Thomas Dodd (Jamaica) beat her accomplished rival to second place. Dodd finished with a best of 19.36m, far away from Adams’ 18.70m. Brittany Crew (Canada) picked the bronze with a throw of 18.32m.
The pole vault final of the same section also witnessed a huge upset as Canadian Aiysha Newman achieved a height of 4.75m — five centimetres clear of pre-event favourite Elisa McCartney (New Zealand). Nina Kennedy pleased the home crowd with the bronze at 4.60m.
Amusan wins 100m hurdle gold
The 100m hurdles saw Oluwatobiloba Amusan (Nigeria) establish her credentials with a 12.69s finish for the gold medal, ahead of the Jamaican pair Danielle Williams (12.78) and Yanique Thompson (12.97). The heptathlon title was picked up by Katarina Johnson-Thompson with a total of 6256 points; Katarina pushed away the challenge from Nina Schultz (Canada, 6133 points) and her own team-mate Niamh Emerson (6043). India’s Purnima Hembram finished the two-day event seventh with a personal best of 5834 points.
The men’s 10,000m was won by Ugandan Joshua Kiprui Cheptegee in 27:19.62. Mohammed Ahmed (Canada) won the silver and Rodgers Kwemoi (Kenya) clinched the bronze before Kenya completed its sixth successive triumph in the 3000m steeple chase through Consesius Kipruto (8:10.88).
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What again stood out was the 1-2-3 completed by Kenya, with Abraham Kibiwott (8:10.62) and Amos Kinri (8:12.24) following the leader.
In discus throw, it was Jamaican Fredrick Dacres who triumphed with a throw of 68.20m, quite clear of team-mate Traves Sikle (63.98) and Apostolos Pavelis (Cyprus, 63.61).
Earlier in the morning session, Neeraj Chopra needed just a single attempt to cross the qualifying mark of 78m and make the final of the men’s javelin throw even as the Indian team also made it to the final of the men’s 4x400m relay.
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