Cape Town - Caster Semenya has destroyed the field in the women's 800m at a Diamond League event held in Rome, finishing over 12 metres ahead Francine Niyonsaba and sending an ominous warning to her rivals as the Rio Olympics approach.
Semenya was happy to sit at the back of the field and was seemingly boxed in on the first lap.
She quickly moved to the front of the field after the first lap, reeling in Niyonsaba who had built a healthy lead over the chasing pack.
Niyonsaba had no answer for Semenya's kick as she pulled away easily over the final 60 meters to cross the line in 1.56.64. for her third Diamond League victory of the year.
World champion Wayde van Niekerk won his 400m race against a quality field, taking the lead entering the home straight and even easing up at the end to cross the line in 44.19, ahead of Braylon Taplin (Grenada) and Isaac Makwala (Botswana).
This was Van Niekerk's first race outside of South Africa this season.