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Paris - Caster Semenya got her preparations for the world championships back on track at the Diamond League on Friday, winning the women's 800m after two disastrous previous outings.
The reigning world champion finished last in the 1 500m in the Lausanne Diamond League and then trailed in fifth in a 1 500m in Reims earlier this week.
This time around at the Stade de France, the pacemaker went through 400m in 57.17 seconds, with Semenya lingering at the back of the pack.
The 20-year-old, who clocked a jaw-dropping personal best of 1:55.45 in storming to victory at the 2009 Berlin worlds but was cast into limbo soon after until July 2010 because of allegations over her true gender, made her move with 200m to go, slowly working her way past the pack on the outside.
Hitting the final 120m, she stretched her legs and passed Briton Jennifer Meadows for a clear run at the line.
The South African clocked 2:00.18 ahead of Lausanne winner Halim Hachlaf of Morocco and Meadows in third.
"It's a good feeling to win here but I expected a faster race," said Semenya.
"Now I need to go back home and train hard for the world championships. My tactics were clear, just stick to the front runners."
The Pretoria University student added: I will also compete in China at the World University Games. That will be my time trials before Daegu."
Results from the eighth Diamond League meeting at the Stade de France on Friday.
Men
200m (wind: -0.6 m/s)
1. Usain Bolt (JAM) 20.03sec
2. Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) 20.21
3. Darvis Patton (USA) 20.59
4. Mario Forsythe (JAM) 20.61
5. Rondell Sorrillo (TRI) 20.81
6. Teddy Tinmar (FRA) 21.15
7. Shawn Crawford (USA) 22.17
400m
1. Christopher Brown (BAH) 44.94
2. Jonathan Borlee (BEL) 45.05
3. Jermaine Gonzales (JAM) 45.43
4. Jeremy Wariner (USA) 45.50
5. Oscar Pistorius (RSA) 45.84
6. Michael Bingham (GBR) 45.84
7. Calvin Smith (USA) 45.88
8. Yoann Decimus (FRA) 46.88
1 500m
1. Amine Laalou (MAR) 3:32.15
2. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:33.04
3. Bernard Lagat (USA) 3:33.11
4. Nicholas Willis (NZL) 3:33.22
5. Mohamed Moustaoui (MAR) 3:33.59
6. Leonel Manzano (USA) 3:33.66
7. Yoann Kowal (FRA) 3:33.75
8. Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) 3:33.84
9. Andrew Wheating (USA) 3:34.39
10. Manuel Olmedo (ESP) 3:34.44
11. Matt Centrowitz (USA) 3:34.69
12. Mekonnen Gebre Medhine (ETH) 3:34.86
13. Florian Carvalho (FRA) 3:35.29
14. Carsten Schlangen (GER) 3:35.74
15. Andrew Baddeley (GBR) 3:36.47
16. Abdelati Iguider (MAR) 3:37.94
110m hurdles (wind: +1.3m/s)
1. Dayron Robles (CUB) 13.09
2. David Oliver (USA) 13.09
3. Dwight Thomas (JAM) 13.18
4. Aries Merritt (USA) 13.27
5. Jason Richardson (USA) 13.31
6. Andrew Turner (GBR) 13.43
7. Terrence Trammell (USA) 13.57
3 000m steeplechase
1. Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad (FRA) 8:02.09
2. Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) 8:07.14
3. Benjamin Kiplagat (UGA) 8:08.43
4. Gary Roba (ETH) 8:10.03
5. Jairus Kipchoge (KEN) 8:11.31
6. Patrick Kipkirui Langat (KEN) 8:13.14
7. Ruben Ramolefi (RSA) 8:14.36
8. Lukasz Parszczynski (POL) 8:15.47
9. Nordine Gezzar (FRA) 8:16.03
10. Elias Kemboi Chelimo (KEN) 8:21.63
11. Mohamed-Khaled Belabbas (FRA) 8:22.38
12. Silas Kosgei Kitum (KEN) 8:25.44
13. Abdelhakim Zilali (FRA) 8:25.82
14. Jukka Keskisalo (FIN) 8:26.72
15. Alberto Paulo (POR) 8:35.39
High jump
1. Jaroslav Bába (CZE) 2.26m
2. Donald Thomas (BAH) 2.26
2. Ivan Ukhov (RUS) 2.26
4. Andrey Silnov (RUS) 2.26
5. Dmytro Dem'yanyuk (UKR) 2.26
6. Yaroslav Rybakov (RUS) 2.23
6. Raul Spank (GER) 2.23
6. Aleksey Dmitrik (RUS) 2.23
9. Kyriakos Ioannou (CYP) 2.23
10. Mathias Cianci (FRA) 2.15
Long jump
1. Irving Saladino (PAN) 8.40m
2. Christopher Tomlinson (GBR) 8.35
3. Greg Rutherford (GBR) 8.27
4. Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (RSA) 8.25
5. Yahya Berrabah (MAR) 8.10
6. Louis Tsatoumas (GRE) 8.03
7. Christian Reif (GER) 7.99
8. Fabrice Lapierre (AUS) 7.97
9. Ignisious Gaisah (GHA) 7.90
10. Morten Jensen (DEN) 7.87
11. Kafetien Gomis (FRA) 7.55
Pole vault
1. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.73m
2. Jerome Clavier (FRA) 5.63
3. Konstadínos Filippidis (GRE) 5.63
4. Fabian Schulze (GER) 5.53
4. Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) 5.53
4. Romain Mesnil (FRA) 5.53
4. Malte Mohr (GER) 5.53
8. Alexander Straub (GER) 5.33
9. Mark Hollis (USA) 5.33
Discus
1. Robert Harting (GER) 67.32m
2. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 67.26
3. Gerd Kanter (EST) 67,24
4. Zoltan Kovago (HUN) 65.26
5. Ben Harradine (AUS) 64.98
6. Martin Wierig (GER) 64.20
7. Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) 63.74
8. Mart Israel (EST) 60.33
9. Jean-François Aurokiom (FRA) 56.84
Women
100m (wind: +0.6m/s)
1. Kelly Ann Baptiste (TRI) 10.91
2. Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 10.95
3. Kerron Stewart (JAM) 11.04
4. Ivet Lalova (BUL) 11.18
5. Shalonda Solomon (USA) 11.19
6. Sherone Simpson (JAM) 11.33
7. Veronique Mang (FRA) 11.33
8. Myriam Soumare (FRA) 11.36
9. Lashauntea Moore (USA) 11.39
800m
1. Caster Semenya (RSA) 2:00.18
2. Halima Hachlaf (MAR) 2:00.60
3. Jennifer Meadows (GBR) 2:00.74
4. Alysia Johnson (USA) 2:00.78
5. Hind Dehiba (FRA) 2:01.45
6. Zehra Bouras (ALG) 2:01.73
7. Svetlana Usovich (BLR) 2:01.78
8. Yuneisis Santiusty (CUB) 2:02.55
9. Yvonne Hak (NED) 2:08.09
5 000m
1. Meseret Defar (ETH) 14:29.52
2. Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH) 14:31.66
3. Mercy Cherono (KEN) 14:35.13
4. Shalane Flanagan (USA) 14:45.20
5. Dolores Checa (ESP) 14:46.89
6. Sule Utura (ETH) 14:56.05
7. Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 14:57.62
8. Emebet Anteneh (ETH) 14:57.66
9. Azemra Gebru (ETH) 14:58.34
10. Amy Hastings (USA) 15:15.30
11. Genet Yalew (ETH) 15:15.67
12. Jennifer Rhines (USA) 15:30.97
400m hurdles
1. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 53.29
2. Kaliese Spencer (JAM) 53.45
3. Natalya Antyukh (RUS) 54.41
4. Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR) 54.79
5. Melanie Walker (JAM) 55.06
6. Vania Stambolova (BUL) 55.51
7. Ristananna Tracey (JAM) 56.32
8. Phara Anacharsis (FRA) 56.53
Triple jump
1. Yargelis Savigne (CUB) 14.99m
2. Olga Saladukha (UKR) 14.81
3. Olga Alekseyeva (KAZ) 14.48
4. Simona La Mantia (ITA) 14.33
5. Mabel Gay (CUB) 14.31
6. Dana Veldakova (SVK) 14.25
7. Katja Demut (GER) 14.06
8. Baya Rahouli (ALG) 13.97
Shot put
1. Valerie Adams (NZL) 20.78m
2. Nadezhda Ostapchuk (BLR) 20.49
3. Jill Camarena (USA) 20.18
4. Cleopatra Borel (TRI) 19.42
5. Misleydis Gonzalez (CUB) 18.87
6. Michelle Carter (USA) 18.38
7. Nadine Kleinert-Schmitt (GER) 18.01
8. Jessica Cerival (FRA) 17.12
Javelin
1. Christina Obergfoll (GER) 68.01m
2. Barbora Spotakova (CZE) 67.57
3. Maria Abakumova (RUS) 65.12
4. Katherine Sayers (GBR) 62.14
5. Kimberley Mickle (AUS) 61.97
6. Sunette Viljoen (RSA) 61.74
7. Kathrina Molitor (GER) 61.74
8. Kara Patterson (USA) 58.21
The reigning world champion finished last in the 1 500m in the Lausanne Diamond League and then trailed in fifth in a 1 500m in Reims earlier this week.
This time around at the Stade de France, the pacemaker went through 400m in 57.17 seconds, with Semenya lingering at the back of the pack.
The 20-year-old, who clocked a jaw-dropping personal best of 1:55.45 in storming to victory at the 2009 Berlin worlds but was cast into limbo soon after until July 2010 because of allegations over her true gender, made her move with 200m to go, slowly working her way past the pack on the outside.
Hitting the final 120m, she stretched her legs and passed Briton Jennifer Meadows for a clear run at the line.
The South African clocked 2:00.18 ahead of Lausanne winner Halim Hachlaf of Morocco and Meadows in third.
"It's a good feeling to win here but I expected a faster race," said Semenya.
"Now I need to go back home and train hard for the world championships. My tactics were clear, just stick to the front runners."
The Pretoria University student added: I will also compete in China at the World University Games. That will be my time trials before Daegu."
Results from the eighth Diamond League meeting at the Stade de France on Friday.
Men
200m (wind: -0.6 m/s)
1. Usain Bolt (JAM) 20.03sec
2. Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) 20.21
3. Darvis Patton (USA) 20.59
4. Mario Forsythe (JAM) 20.61
5. Rondell Sorrillo (TRI) 20.81
6. Teddy Tinmar (FRA) 21.15
7. Shawn Crawford (USA) 22.17
400m
1. Christopher Brown (BAH) 44.94
2. Jonathan Borlee (BEL) 45.05
3. Jermaine Gonzales (JAM) 45.43
4. Jeremy Wariner (USA) 45.50
5. Oscar Pistorius (RSA) 45.84
6. Michael Bingham (GBR) 45.84
7. Calvin Smith (USA) 45.88
8. Yoann Decimus (FRA) 46.88
1 500m
1. Amine Laalou (MAR) 3:32.15
2. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:33.04
3. Bernard Lagat (USA) 3:33.11
4. Nicholas Willis (NZL) 3:33.22
5. Mohamed Moustaoui (MAR) 3:33.59
6. Leonel Manzano (USA) 3:33.66
7. Yoann Kowal (FRA) 3:33.75
8. Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) 3:33.84
9. Andrew Wheating (USA) 3:34.39
10. Manuel Olmedo (ESP) 3:34.44
11. Matt Centrowitz (USA) 3:34.69
12. Mekonnen Gebre Medhine (ETH) 3:34.86
13. Florian Carvalho (FRA) 3:35.29
14. Carsten Schlangen (GER) 3:35.74
15. Andrew Baddeley (GBR) 3:36.47
16. Abdelati Iguider (MAR) 3:37.94
110m hurdles (wind: +1.3m/s)
1. Dayron Robles (CUB) 13.09
2. David Oliver (USA) 13.09
3. Dwight Thomas (JAM) 13.18
4. Aries Merritt (USA) 13.27
5. Jason Richardson (USA) 13.31
6. Andrew Turner (GBR) 13.43
7. Terrence Trammell (USA) 13.57
3 000m steeplechase
1. Mahiedine Mekhissi Benabbad (FRA) 8:02.09
2. Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) 8:07.14
3. Benjamin Kiplagat (UGA) 8:08.43
4. Gary Roba (ETH) 8:10.03
5. Jairus Kipchoge (KEN) 8:11.31
6. Patrick Kipkirui Langat (KEN) 8:13.14
7. Ruben Ramolefi (RSA) 8:14.36
8. Lukasz Parszczynski (POL) 8:15.47
9. Nordine Gezzar (FRA) 8:16.03
10. Elias Kemboi Chelimo (KEN) 8:21.63
11. Mohamed-Khaled Belabbas (FRA) 8:22.38
12. Silas Kosgei Kitum (KEN) 8:25.44
13. Abdelhakim Zilali (FRA) 8:25.82
14. Jukka Keskisalo (FIN) 8:26.72
15. Alberto Paulo (POR) 8:35.39
High jump
1. Jaroslav Bába (CZE) 2.26m
2. Donald Thomas (BAH) 2.26
2. Ivan Ukhov (RUS) 2.26
4. Andrey Silnov (RUS) 2.26
5. Dmytro Dem'yanyuk (UKR) 2.26
6. Yaroslav Rybakov (RUS) 2.23
6. Raul Spank (GER) 2.23
6. Aleksey Dmitrik (RUS) 2.23
9. Kyriakos Ioannou (CYP) 2.23
10. Mathias Cianci (FRA) 2.15
Long jump
1. Irving Saladino (PAN) 8.40m
2. Christopher Tomlinson (GBR) 8.35
3. Greg Rutherford (GBR) 8.27
4. Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (RSA) 8.25
5. Yahya Berrabah (MAR) 8.10
6. Louis Tsatoumas (GRE) 8.03
7. Christian Reif (GER) 7.99
8. Fabrice Lapierre (AUS) 7.97
9. Ignisious Gaisah (GHA) 7.90
10. Morten Jensen (DEN) 7.87
11. Kafetien Gomis (FRA) 7.55
Pole vault
1. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.73m
2. Jerome Clavier (FRA) 5.63
3. Konstadínos Filippidis (GRE) 5.63
4. Fabian Schulze (GER) 5.53
4. Raphael Holzdeppe (GER) 5.53
4. Romain Mesnil (FRA) 5.53
4. Malte Mohr (GER) 5.53
8. Alexander Straub (GER) 5.33
9. Mark Hollis (USA) 5.33
Discus
1. Robert Harting (GER) 67.32m
2. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 67.26
3. Gerd Kanter (EST) 67,24
4. Zoltan Kovago (HUN) 65.26
5. Ben Harradine (AUS) 64.98
6. Martin Wierig (GER) 64.20
7. Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) 63.74
8. Mart Israel (EST) 60.33
9. Jean-François Aurokiom (FRA) 56.84
Women
100m (wind: +0.6m/s)
1. Kelly Ann Baptiste (TRI) 10.91
2. Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 10.95
3. Kerron Stewart (JAM) 11.04
4. Ivet Lalova (BUL) 11.18
5. Shalonda Solomon (USA) 11.19
6. Sherone Simpson (JAM) 11.33
7. Veronique Mang (FRA) 11.33
8. Myriam Soumare (FRA) 11.36
9. Lashauntea Moore (USA) 11.39
800m
1. Caster Semenya (RSA) 2:00.18
2. Halima Hachlaf (MAR) 2:00.60
3. Jennifer Meadows (GBR) 2:00.74
4. Alysia Johnson (USA) 2:00.78
5. Hind Dehiba (FRA) 2:01.45
6. Zehra Bouras (ALG) 2:01.73
7. Svetlana Usovich (BLR) 2:01.78
8. Yuneisis Santiusty (CUB) 2:02.55
9. Yvonne Hak (NED) 2:08.09
5 000m
1. Meseret Defar (ETH) 14:29.52
2. Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH) 14:31.66
3. Mercy Cherono (KEN) 14:35.13
4. Shalane Flanagan (USA) 14:45.20
5. Dolores Checa (ESP) 14:46.89
6. Sule Utura (ETH) 14:56.05
7. Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 14:57.62
8. Emebet Anteneh (ETH) 14:57.66
9. Azemra Gebru (ETH) 14:58.34
10. Amy Hastings (USA) 15:15.30
11. Genet Yalew (ETH) 15:15.67
12. Jennifer Rhines (USA) 15:30.97
400m hurdles
1. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 53.29
2. Kaliese Spencer (JAM) 53.45
3. Natalya Antyukh (RUS) 54.41
4. Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR) 54.79
5. Melanie Walker (JAM) 55.06
6. Vania Stambolova (BUL) 55.51
7. Ristananna Tracey (JAM) 56.32
8. Phara Anacharsis (FRA) 56.53
Triple jump
1. Yargelis Savigne (CUB) 14.99m
2. Olga Saladukha (UKR) 14.81
3. Olga Alekseyeva (KAZ) 14.48
4. Simona La Mantia (ITA) 14.33
5. Mabel Gay (CUB) 14.31
6. Dana Veldakova (SVK) 14.25
7. Katja Demut (GER) 14.06
8. Baya Rahouli (ALG) 13.97
Shot put
1. Valerie Adams (NZL) 20.78m
2. Nadezhda Ostapchuk (BLR) 20.49
3. Jill Camarena (USA) 20.18
4. Cleopatra Borel (TRI) 19.42
5. Misleydis Gonzalez (CUB) 18.87
6. Michelle Carter (USA) 18.38
7. Nadine Kleinert-Schmitt (GER) 18.01
8. Jessica Cerival (FRA) 17.12
Javelin
1. Christina Obergfoll (GER) 68.01m
2. Barbora Spotakova (CZE) 67.57
3. Maria Abakumova (RUS) 65.12
4. Katherine Sayers (GBR) 62.14
5. Kimberley Mickle (AUS) 61.97
6. Sunette Viljoen (RSA) 61.74
7. Kathrina Molitor (GER) 61.74
8. Kara Patterson (USA) 58.21
