Savinova becomes first Russian world champion in women's 800m

The year's leader Mariya Savinova became the first Russian to win the women's 800m world title here on Sunday, refreshing her own world leading mark with one minute and 55.87 seconds. The European champion pushed her pace from about 250m to go and overtook defending champion Caster Semenya in the last 10m to finish home first. Semenya from South Africa, who won the gold medal in Berlin as a teenager, clocked her season's best time of 1:56.35 to take the silver medal. Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei, the 2007 world champion, finished third in 1:57.42, which is also her best mark of the season.