Caster Semenya has won Olympic and world titles on the track over 800 metres but can’t run that distance competitively now so she’s taking on cross-country at a world championships course more synonymous with an iconic Australian auto race. The mixed team race involves women and men each running a 2-kilometre loop in a relay, passing a wristband at the exchange zone. Semenya competed in the 4-kilometre event at the South African cross-country championships last September in preparation. Cheptegei has the world records in the 5,000- and 10,000-meters, is the world champion in the 10,000 and cross-country and the Olympic champion at 5,000. Semenya didn't progress through the heats in the 5,000 metres at the track world championships in Oregon last July, placing 13th in the 12 1/2—lap race run in blistering heat.

Source: Ethiopian News February 18, 2023 04:03 UTC