Kenya’s Rio Olympic Games bronze winning 800m star Margaret Wambui Nyairera has admitted she lost to stronger rivals but has promised to be stronger next season.
Nyairera ran a personal best time of 1:56.89 behind gold medallist Caster Semenya (1:55.28) and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who settled for silver in 1:56.49.
The 20-year-old emerging Nyairera, out-fought Melissa Bishop of Canada in a close bettle down the home stretch to stop the clock at 1:56.89.
Nyairera said the fact that she has just graduated to the seniors and won an Olympic medal is a major achievement.
She admitted she has always struggled in the last 100 metres but has emphasised she will work on her speed and endurance to be at par with her rivals next year.
She confirmed she will run in Lausanne this Thursday in her last race of the season.
Semenya, who won silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games and is unbeaten this season, kicked hard off the final bend and flew down the final 100 metres for a comprehensive victory by chipping 0.05 from her national record in 1:55.28.
The South African hit 400m in 57.5 closely chased by Niyonsaba with Arzamasova and Canada’s 2015 world championships silver medallist Melissa Bishop in toe.
The bell was the calling card for Niyonsaba to make her gold medal bid as she accelerated to the front pursued by a composed-looking Semenya, with Nyairera also staying close to the front.