THIS WAS PUBLISHED PRIOR TO SEMENYA BEING SOUNDLY BEATEN IN STOCKHOLM
Semenya must keep Russian trio at bay
29/07/2011 | Ramatsiyi Moholoa | 0 comments
CASTER Semenya is under siege from the Russians, who want to end her monopoly of the Diamond League Series in the 800m event.
Semenya is challenged by three Russian athletes - Svetlana Klyuka, Yelena Kofanova and Tatyana Adrianova - in the 11th leg of the series in Stockholm, Sweden tonight.
Klyuka and Kofanova have both run faster than the world champion this season. Klyuka recorded a season’s best time of 1:58.03 while Kofanova ran a personal best 1:58.25 at the Russian Championships.
Semenya’s best this year is 1:58.61, which she set in Oslo in June. Semenya, 21, has competed against Klyuka twice and came out tops on both occasions.
The first time the two athletes met was at the drama-filled World Championships in Berlin, Germany, in 2009, where Semenya won gold. Their second meeting was in Oslo this year where Klyuka finished eighth in a time of 1:59.97 and Semenya third (1:58.61).
“I expect a tough race, but the plan is to maintain the winning rhythm,” said Semenya, who arrived in Stockholm yesterday.
“The Diamond League meets are helping me prepare for the World Championships.”
Semenya will make her World Student Games debut in China next month.
Another South African who will take part tonight is 3000m steeplechase record holder Ruben Ramolefi, who should brace himself for a stiff challenge from the mighty Kenyans.
Athletics SA board member Hendrick Ramaala said: “We are happy to see our athletes doing well despite the lack of funds. We don’t have enough money to send our athletes for intensive training camps. and we are still waiting.”
The Stockholm Diamond League is on SuperSport 2 at 8pm.