Caster Semenya wins 800 meter race at venue of her world championship triumph

Semenya wins 800 race in Berlin

BERLIN — Caster Semenya has cruised to victory in the 800-meter race at the same Olympic Stadium in Berlin where she won the world title one year ago before missing 11 months of competition while undergoing gender tests.

The South African teenager surged ahead in the last 50 meters Sunday and crossed the line in 1 minute, 59.90 seconds, breaking the 2-minute barrier in her third race since returning to competition in July. It was the first time Semenya went under 2 minutes since she was cleared to run again.

Semenya hopes to make the South Africa team for the Commonwealth Games in October.