21st CAA Championships : Semenya is no threat, anything can happen -Egbeniyi

With less than 16 days to the start of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Championships, Abike Egbeniyi, a 800m finalist at the 2015 African Games says Caster Semenya was no threat to her.
In spite of Semenya’s dominance in the 800m, the Lagos State indigene said she would not underestimate, but would not be intimidated by the South African’s impressive records.
Egbeniyi, who placed second at the 2018 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Championships in June, told newsroom on Monday that surprises could spring up at the event.
“When it comes to championships, anything can happen. Semenya is not a threat to me because I will be participating to give it my best and at the same time have fun,’’ she said.
The 21st edition of the championships would hold from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5 in Asaba, Delta would feature no fewer than 42 African countries.
Egbeniyi, a Middle Tennessee State University student in the State of Tennessee, US, said she was excited about representing her country, stressing that she would not let the country down.
“It is an honour to represent my country, just thinking about it makes me excited,’’ she said.
Egbeniyi holds her school’s record in the 800m with a time of 2:02.34secs, set at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) East Regional finals.
NAN reports that Semenya who burst onto the world track and field scene in 2009, has won two Olympic titles in the London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
She has also won gold medals in three International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in 2009, 2011 and 2017.
She won both the 800m and 1500m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The South African won the last edition of the championships two years ago in Durban, Kenya placed second, while Nigeria clinched the third position.