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2017 IAAF World Championships

Ajee Wilson Takes 800m World Bronze Behind Semenya, Niyonsaba

Ajee Wilson Takes 800m World Bronze Behind Semenya, Niyonsaba

Ajee Wilson wins first senior level global championship medal in 800m at 2017 IAAF World Championships behind Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba.

Aug 13, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
Ajee Wilson Takes 800m World Bronze Behind Semenya, Niyonsaba
In a strikingly similar race to the Paris Diamond League where Ajee Wilson broke the American record in 1:55.61, the fearless 23-year-old took third in the IAAF World Championships 800m behind only Caster Semenya of South Africa and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi. Semenya overtook Niyonsaba and Wilson in the final stretch to win her third world title in 1:55.16, her personal best and the eighth-fastest time in world history.


Niyonsaba and Wilson did their best to prevent the South African from capturing what seemed to be an inevitable world title, but they couldn't match her strength in the final meters.

U.S. champion Wilson, who has won world U18 and world U20 titles, jetted straight to the front as Niyonsaba ran on her outside. They passed 200m in 27 seconds and Niyonsaba pulled ahead by 400m, clocking 57.98 for the split as Wilson split 58.21.

400m Split:

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Wilson made a move to pass Niyonsaba on the backstretch, but the 2016 Olympic silver medalist would not let her by. Meanwhile, reigning Olympic champion Semenya moved past Olympic bronze medalist Margaret Wambui of Kenya, and started to gain ground on the leaders in front. As the top three athletes hit the homestretch, Semenya was able to easily cruise by into first while Niyonsaba narrowly held off Wilson for silver. 

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Wilson is the first American woman to earn a medal at the World Championships since 2013, when Brenda Martinez earned silver. Alysia Montaño placed fourth in that race and is due to be upgraded to third as bronze medalist Mariya Savinova of Russia was later handed a lifetime ban from the sport for doping.

Her time is the fastest ever by an American at the World Championships, according to USATF, and her medal ties Team USA's best-ever performance at a World Championships with 28 total medals. The 4x400m relays are still left on the schedule where the Americans are heavily favored to medal in both genders' races.


Final Result:

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