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Beijing – Caster Semenya and Khotso Mokoena gave Team SA a perfect start on day five of the IAAF World Championships.
Semenya sneaked in at third in a time of 1:59.59 to seal an automatic qualifier for the 800m semifinals tomorrow.
Mokoena jumped a distance of 16.78m to advance to the triple jump final – also tomorrow – as one of the 12 best performers during the qualification rounds.
In marking her return to the global stage, Semenya breached the two-minute barrier for the first time in nearly two years.
Mokoena made up for a bad start in the long jump where he was eliminated in the first round on Monday.
In another morning session event involving a South African, 110m hurdler Antonio Alkana missed a berth in the semifinals after he finished sixth in 13.63 seconds in a heat that was won by world record holder Aries Merritt – the American who trains with Anaso Jobodwana at the Altis Centre in Phoenix, US.
Only the top four and the next four fastest went through to the semifinals.
Who to watch this afternoon:
Anaso Jobodwana – 200m semifinals (2.46pm SA time)
Akani Simbine – 200m semifinals (2.30pm)
Wenda Nel – women’s 400m hurdles final (2.10pm)
Wayde van Niekerk – 400m final (3.25pm)
