Semenya powers to 1,500m Commonwealth title

GOLD COAST, Australia, Apr 10 (Reuters): South African flag-bearer Caster Semenya powered to the 1,500-metre title at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday, keeping her bid for a golden double at the Gold Coast intact.
Semenya, the 800m Olympic and world champion, bided her time before burning away from the modest field 300-metre before the line to post a Games record time of four minutes and 0.72 seconds on a soggy track at Carrara Stadium.
Semenya, who will also bid for gold in the 800m, left Kenya's silver medalist Beatrice Chepkoech (4:03:09) in her wake, with Wales Melissa Courtney taking the bronze.
Semenya's gold continued a proud Games for South Africa on the track, following Akani Simbine's 100m gold when he upstaged Jamaica's Yohan Blake on Monday.