Caster Semenya on new event, tokyo 2020 qualification and more at 2021 ASA Senior Championships.

Athletics 360

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya spoke about qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Games in a new event after defending her South African championships 5,000m title in Pretoria, on Thursday. Semenya trimmed nearly 15 seconds off her personal best by crossing the line in 15:52.28 — 42.28 secs outside the Tokyo qualifying time of 15:10. The race was staged at an altitude of 1,339 m (4,393 feet) and Semenya is considering running the same distance at sea level, where the air is less thin and times generally faster. “If the guys in Durban (sea-level city) do something in May, I might run,” Semenya said after her victory. “I am pretty happy with how I ran (today) — it is all about having fun. I can’t really focus on Tokyo if I’m still building up myself at the moment.” Last year, Semenya announced she would pursue Olympics 200m qualification. But the three-time 800m world champion has changed her mind, believing distance races will lengthen her career. "I am 30 years old and if I were to do sprints it would be a risk to my muscles. In distance (running), there is more time to find consistency," said the three-time world 800m champion.