Caster Semenya qualifies for 800m semis

South African runner Caster Semenya has qualified for the semi-finals of the women's 800m.

The 21-year-old, who won gold at the 2009 World Championships, eased into second place behind the breakaway runner Alysia Johnson Montano of the United States.

Semenya's time of 2:00.71 was a good five seconds short of her personal best that she ran in the 800m final three years ago.

The semi-finals take place tomorrow evening, with the final one of the events of the last day of competition on Saturday night.