Wayde, Caster conquer Rome

Caster Semenya saved her best for last, while Wayde van Niekerk underlined his class once more as the two South African superstars surged to victory at the Rome Diamond League on Thursday night.

They were joined on the winners’ podium by javelin ace Sunette Viljoen, who threw 61.95m to record her second Diamond League victory of the season.

Semenya was boxed in for most of the race in a manner that was reminiscent of her battles during the 2012 London Olympic final. Four years ago, she needed to make a late push and ended with the silver medal, but on Thursday at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, she timed her break-out perfectly towards the end.

The 25-year-old moved from well behind the leader to fight her way to the outside at the 600m mark, and then sped away from the rest of the field with a wonderful kick to equal her own world-leading time for 2016 of 1:56.64, which is the same time that she recorded in Rabat a few weeks ago to be the joint-leader in the Diamond League with three wins.

Burundian Francine Niyonsaba was left in Semenya’s wake again, finishing second in 1:58.20. It is clear that Semenya’s speed work in the 400m this year has benefited her enormously in the last part of the race, as it enables her to “hold her fire” on the opening lap.

She is the obvious favourite for Olympic gold, but will be careful not to peak too early as Rio is more than two months away.

Van Niekerk, though, seems to be building his way up to prime condition. Having started the year with a 9.98 in the 100m, the 400m world champion only really got going in the one-lap event at the SA championships in April, where he cruised to victory in 44.98.

He stepped it up significantly a few weeks ago with a season’s best 44.11 at the SA Open Championships in Bloemfontein, but was pushed all the way in Rome on Thursday.

Van Niekerk was just ahead of Grenada’s Bralon Taplin for most of the race, but put his foot down on the final bend to open up a bit of a gap. Taplin responded, but Van Niekerk had enough in reserve to win in 44.19. That is still an excellent time in cool conditions, especially considering it was his first outing in Europe this year.

Taplin ended in 44.43, with Botswana’s Isaac Makwala third in 44.85.

SA 400m hurdles champion Wenda Nel will be delighted with her second place as she produced a strong finish to run 54.61, a new season’s best. Nel has been trying out different stride patterns this year to ultimately achieve her goal of breaking 54 seconds, and after a poor start to the international season, she has improved her time in the two races since.

After going out too fast earlier in the year, Nel held herself back in Rome and mounted a late charge to the line to end behind Jamaican Janeive Russell, who ran a superb 53.96, which is a new personal best.

SA long jump champion Ruswahl Samaai will be somewhat disappointed by his fourth-place finish on the night as Olympic and world champion Greg Rutherford made a big statement in his first Diamond League outing this year.

British star Rutherford leapt to 8.31m, well ahead of world leader Marquise Goodman of the USA in 8.19m. Australian Fabrice Lapierre came third in 8.18, just ahead of Samaai’s 8.16m.

The second South African, Luvo Manyonga, was placed seventh in 8.03m in what was the first Diamond League event of his career.

SA 100m record holder Akani Simbine made his return to the track from a hamstring injury, suffered at the national championships in April, but he had a tough night against a strong field to finish fifth in 10.13.

But that’s not a bad time against the likes of Justin Gatlin, who won in 9.93, and fellow American Ameer Webb (9.94).

Discus thrower Victor Hogan rounded off a good night for South African athletics with a second place in 64.03m, with Poland’s Robert Urbanek winning in 65.00m.

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Selected Results

Men’s 100m

1 Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.93

2 Ameer Webb (USA) 9.94

3 Jimmy Vicaut (France) 9.99

5 Akani Simbine (RSA) 10.13

Men’s 400m

1 Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) 44.19

2 Bralon Taplin (Grenada) 44.43

3 Isaac Makwala (Botswana) 44.85