2011 WC Daegu: Day 9, Session 2: Mariya Savinova over Caster Semenya in 800 meters! Busienei takes bronze, by Larry Eder

Montano, Sinclair, Busienei, 2011 WC 800m, photo by PhotoRun.net

In an epic womens’ 800 meters, Mariya Savinova of Russia, the world leader at 800 meters, stayed back in sixth, and caught Caster Semenya on the last fifty meters of the 800 meters, winning in 1:55.87, a world leader.

400 meters in 55.5!, 2011 WC 800m, photo by PhotoRun.net

Caster Semenya, who also stayed back, took the silver in 1:56.35. In third was the half way leader, J.J. Busienei of Kenya who pushed the leaders through 55.5.

At that time Busienie had Alysia Johnson Montano as company, with Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica, one of the top winners at 800m this year. Montano finished fourth in 1:57.48, her seasonal best.

Caster Semenya, (Maggie Vessey), 2011 WC 800m final, photo by PhotoRun.net

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As Montano and Sinclair began falling back, Semenya went alive and moved to the front. Savinova was on Semenya’s side and moved by, in the final stretch, running to victory.

Savinova, ready to pounce, 2011 WC 800m final, photo by PhotoRun.net

Maggie Vessey of the US ran a smart race, finishing in sixth in 1:58.50. She just could not move up past sixth place. Kenia Sinclair finished in seventh in 1:58.66 and Yuliya Rusinova of Russia finished in eighth place in 1:59.74.

Savinova, Semenya, the battle is on, 2011 WC 800m, photo by PhotoRun.net

Many considered Caster Semenya unbeatable. Mariya Savinova had run perfectly timed kicks in each round. She used the same moves in the 800 meter final. Her finish was one for the ages: clean, surgical and timely. Savinova pulled up behind Semenya and went by her in one swift move. Semenya had no answer, as Savinova hit the finish line, all smiles. Her finish was more than enough to catch Semenya, who seemed relieved to have won the silver! For Mariya Savinova, she is now the World Champion at 800 meters!

Mariya Savinova, 2011 WC 800m, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net

For Mariya Savinova, this was a gold medal day. For Caster Semenya, there was some relief in medaling. For J.J. Busienie, the bronze medal was hard fought, as J.J. had taken the race out in a swift 55.5! Holding on must have been tortuous. The women’s 800 meter is changing. At 1:58.96 to make the final, Jenny Meadows of Great Britain did not make the final. The 800 meters for women seems to be changing once again.

For the fans, this was just a a great 800 meters to watch!

Busienie, Coach, Frederico Rosa (manager), 2011 WC 800m final, photo by PhotoRun.net

Updated September 6, 2011

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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