Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Tuesday 2 July 2019

United States' Weston Mckennie, right, celebrates with Tyler
Boyd after Mcnennie's goal during the first half of a CONCA-
CAF Gold Cup soccer match against Curacao, Sunday, June
30, 2019, in Philadelphia.
Associated Press
U.S. beats Curacao South Africa's Caster Semenya approaches the finish line to win the women's 800-meter race
during the Prefontaine Classic, an IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting, in Stanford, Calif.,
Sunday, June 30, 2019.
1-0, plays Jamaica in Associated Press

Gold Cup semifinals Semenya wins women's 800,

By DAVE ZEITLIN ances. wants to defend world title
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chris- "That's one of my strengths,
tian Pulisic and the United running into the box late," By MICHAEL WAGAMAN to take medication to be will await the next ruling
States are headed to the McKennie said. "I always Associated Press in compliance and initially from the Swiss court.
CONCACAF Gold Cup tell him to look for me. He STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — planned to side-step it at A federal judge's decision
semifinals after an under- knows to look for me. That's Caster Semenya easily the Prefontaine by regis- is expected within days
whelming performance a little something we work won the women's 800 at tering to run the 3,000. She on whether to extend an
against Curacao. on together." the Prefontaine Classic on was eventually cleared in interim suspension of the
The U.S. was outplayed Playing near his hometown Sunday, as an international time for the seventh stop IAAF rules that Semenya
during the second half by of Hershey, Pulisic shot just court continues to debate on the Diamond League requested. A final verdict
the world's 79th-ranked na- wide in the second min- her future in the event. circuit. from a panel of judges is
tional team but managed ute and was denied in the The reigning Olympic "When I run I forget about expected to take several
to advance with a 1-0 fourth when goalkeeper champion and embattled everything. It's just all about months.
win Sunday night behind Eloy Room, while falling three-time world champion me," Semenya said. "It's all It means Semenya is cur-
Weston McKennie's goal in to his left, reached to his won in 1 minute, 55.70 sec- about me being free. It's rently in line to defend her
the 25th minute. right to tip his shot over the onds, nearly three seconds all about me doing what title at the World Champi-
The defending champi- crossbar. ahead of second-place I love. I treat people with onships in Doha, Qatar in
on U.S. extended its Gold "I wanted to lead the team Ajee Wilson, in the highly respect and I appreciate September. That's where
Cup winning streak to nine from the start," Pulisic said. anticipated race at Cobb them for who they are. I Semenya ran a world-lead-
and will play Jamaica on "In the end, we needed Track and Angell Field. It's accept them. That's what ing 1:54.98 on May 3 in her
Wednesday at Nashville, to finish more chances to the fastest-time ever on I do. For me it's all about last 800 before Sunday.
Tennessee, in the second make it much easier on American soil. inspiring the youth so they If the IAAF rules are re-
semifinal, a night after Mex- ourselves." "We're happy with the win can be better." applied this month, Seme-
ico faces Haiti at Glendale, Curacao had 60 percent but not how we ran the Semenya trailed early but nya's appearance in the
Arizona. The U.S. reached possession in the second race," Semenya said. "Obvi- took the lead on the back 800 at the Prefontaine may
the semifinals for the 10th half and outshot the U.S. ously, when you're running stretch of the second lap be her last.
straight Gold Cup and 14th 15-10 overall. American 800 meters it's all about the and cruised across the "My goal is to defend my
in 15 overall. goalkeeper Zack Steffen, splits that you run. We're line more than 15 meters world title," Semenya said.
"When you get to the a native of suburban Phila- not really calculated well ahead of Wilson, who fin- "If I'm not allowed, I'm not
knockout stages, everyone delphia, made a leaping but at the end of the day ished in 1:58.36. allowed. I don't give a
wants to move on to the save on Leandro Bacuna in you have to execute, you Wilson, the American re- damn. This is a legal battle.
next round and they're giv- the 84th minute. have to rectify those mis- cord holder in the 800, It's like war. You don't give
ing absolutely everything," The 30th-ranked Americans takes when you're running was glad to see Semenya up. I'm a world champ, I'm
Pulisic said. "Curacao 100 have outscored opponents a race." cleared to race. an Olympic champion. I've
percent wanted that — 12-0 in the tournament, the It was the first time Semenya "Absolutely I think she be al- achieved everything that
you could see that in the championship of North ran the 800 since Switzer- lowed to run," Wilson said. "I I've ever wanted. At the
way they played." and Central America and land's supreme court ruled think everybody should be end of the day I'm just do-
Pulisic, the Americans' star the Caribbean, and have her eligible while it consid- allowed to compete. The ing it for those that cannot
midfielder, captained the held opponents scoreless ers her appeal against a parameters surrounding fight for themselves."
U.S. for the second time for 405 minutes overall. new IAAF rule capping tes- that, I'm not sure about, but Semenya acknowledged
and fed fellow 20-year-old Gregg Berhalter, hired as tosterone levels in women's I definitely think she should having difficulty adjusting
McKennie for the goal. Pu- U.S. coach in December, events from the 400 to mile. be able to do what she to the time change for the
lisic cut in from a flank and said it was a tactical de- One of a handful of run- wants." race in California. Shoul-
crossed, and McKennie cision to fall back and not ners affected by the IAAF What's next for Semenya dering the fight against the
headed in the ball from 4 press in the second half, rules, Semenya has been is uncertain. She plans to IAAF has also taken its toll,
yards for his second goal which allowed Curacao to fighting back. The 28-year- take four weeks off before but Semenya is determined
in 12 international appear- control possession.q old South African refused resuming her circuit, and to push on.q