Kenyan athletes throw down the gauntlet
Caster Semenya of South Africa has been criticized by senior 800m racers, and has now become a target for junior racers Gladys Cherono Koech and Winnie Chebet of Kenya, who are looking to step into senior roles at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi this October.
After winning gold last year in the 800m at the World Championships, Semenya was suspended from competition pending the results of a gender test. At the time Eliza Cusma Piccione of Italy said “For me, she is a man.”
She was reinstated on July 6, and after a couple of comeback races, she won The World Challenge in August which prompted further comments from her fellow racers.
“Even if she is a female, she's on the very fringe of the normal athlete female biological composition from what I understand of hormone testing,” said Diane Cummins of Canada. “So, from that perspective, most of us just feel that we are literally running against a man.”
Now Semenya will also have to contend with Koech and Chebet, both of whom are looking to beat not only Semenya, but the entire women’s 800m field. “It is time to drop the youth tag and step out as seniors taking the challenge to them,” said Koech. “I have run in a number of races in Europe against these top athletes, and it will be not major test when we meet in Delhi.”
At the African Championships in Mauritius last year, Semenya beat Chebet with a time of 1:56.72 seconds. Her personal best is 1:55.45.
“I have only run against her once, in Mauritius, and she was too fast for me. But she helped me run 2:01.36, which was then my personal best time,” said Chebet. “Now I want to beat her so that we get even. I will be looking to get to her in Delhi, and I know I have the potential to beat anyone.”
Koech, the World Junior silver medallist, took second place behind Semenya at the World Challenge with a time of 2:00.40, just behind Semenya’s time of 1:59.90. The close finish has given her confidence that she can win in Delhi.
“She has beaten me, but it was a close race,” said Koech. “Now we will see how she performs in Delhi. Certainly, revenge will be in the air when we meet and, that aside, I believe the gold is coming to Kenya.”
There will be other competitors looking to beat both Semenya and the young Kenyans. Janeth Jepkosgei of Jamaica will be looking to defend her Commonwealth title, and World Championship bronze medallist, Jenny Meadows of England, will also be looking to perform well in Delhi.
Kenya dominated seven out of eight events during the Diamond League season this year. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Kenya came home with six gold medals, five silver, and two bronze in the track and field events.
Kenya’s head coach, Peter Mathu, is looking forward to Delhi, saying that despite the absence of countries that are not members of the Commonwealth, it should not be taken lightly. His Kenyan team will certainly not be taking it lightly as they will look to dominate middle and long distance races.
Kenya will be missing men’s 800m world record holder, David Rudisha, who, like many athletes around the world, pulled out of the Commonwealth Games to rest for the upcoming season, which will include the World Championships in South Korea.
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