Ever dominant Caster Semenya was the highlight of the South African action on the final day of the African Championships in Asaba, Nigeria on Sunday.

Semenya added to her 400-metre gold won earlier in the competition as she clipped 0.30sec off Mozambican Maria Mutola’s 1993  African 800m record.

The old two-lap mark stood at 1:56:36 and was run at the African Championships in Durban 25 years ago.

Semenya’s new mark stands at 1min 56.06sec. Burundian Francine Niyonsaba took silver in 1:57.97 and Bayih Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia took bronze in a time of 1:58.86.

‘I was testing my limits and seeing how far I could go after running 49 (in the 400m) and 1:56.06 is a beautiful time,’ Semenya said. ‘I couldn’t have asked for more.’

Semenya’s medal was one of three gold medals won by South Africa as the rainbow nation ended second behind Kenya on the medals table.

They won nine on the final day of the five-day long competition, bringing their total 30 (nine gold, 13 silver and eight bronze).

The other golds went to sprinter Ncincilili Titi who won the 200m, charging over the line in 20.46sec, with countryman Luxolo Adams bagging bronze in 20.60 and missing out on silver by less than 0.01sec.

‘I knew it was going to be tough so I just did everything I could to be prepared and be strong mentally so I could overcome any challenges,’ Titi said. ‘It was a great experience and a memory I will cherish for a long time.’

Adding another double to the team’s tally, Ischke Senekal won the shot put with a 17.24m effort, and Mieke Strydom earned bronze with a 15.99m throw.

Other athletes who grabbed silver medals included Phil-Mar van Rensburg in the javelin (76.57m), Lebogang Shange in the 20km race walk (1:25:25), triple jump star Zinzi Chabangu (13.59m) and the men’s 4x400m relay team (3:03.50).

Hurdles specialist Wenda Nel also reached the podium, taking bronze in the 400m hurdles in 57.04 seconds.

Photo: Pius Utom Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images