Semenya claims gold in Oslo

Cape Town - Versatile athlete Caster Semenya extended her advantage in the IAAF Diamond League season race in Oslo, Norway on Thursday night, storming to another convincing win in the women's 800m race at the fifth leg of the series.

Semenya chased down Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi to cover the two-lap distance in 1:57.59, with Niyonsaba holding on for second place in 1:58.18.

Turning out in his first Diamond League race, Pieter Conradie ended sixth in the men's 400m contest in 46.16.

LJ van Zyl ended seventh in the men's 400m hurdles in 49.89.

In the pre-programme, Rynardt van Rensburg had won a closely contested 800m 'national' race.

Van Rensburg led at the bell and held on to cross the line in 1:48.98, with Norwegian athlete Andreas Roth taking second place in 1:49.17.

Another South African, Henco Uys, grabbed third spot in 1:49.56.

Meanwhile, six SA athletes have been included among the entries for the next leg of the Diamond League series in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday.

Van Zyl will line up again in the one-lap race over the barriers, while Antonio Alkana, fresh off his recent 110m hurdles record of 13.11*, will compete in his specialist event.

In-form Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga, African champion Ruswahl Samaai and former SA record holder Khotso Mokoena are in the start lists for the men's long jump.

Van Rensburg is again expected to turn out in a 'national' 800m race, closing out the SA contingent in the Swedish capital.

* All national records are subject to standard ratification processes.

Another dominant run by @caster800m who lead the first five under 2min, winning the #OsloDL in 1:57.59 pic.twitter.com/bJWJlDWXKq

— IAAF (@iaaforg) June 15, 2017