Even Caster Semenya has been surprised by her good early season form, during which she has achieved a 400m personal best.
EVEN Caster Semenya has been surprised by her good early season form, during which she has achieved a 400m personal best.
The 800m star clocked 51.47sec in Potchefstroom last weekend, and even the 52.48 she posted in Johannesburg this past Friday was among her best one-lap efforts.
"We're a little bit confused with the times we're running in the 400m," said Semenya, who hasn't spoken with this type of confidence since before the London Olympics.
"You must remember we've only done base work, we haven't touched on anything."
Semenya, who also ran the 800m leg of the medley relay on Friday, will compete in her first 800m individual race at the Varsity Athletics meet in Cape Town today.
"No high expectations, I'm just going to go with the flow," she said, adding that her main focus was the Rio Olympics in August.
Semenya has struggled with her form since winning the 800m silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
She clocked her 1:55.45 personal best winning the world championships in 2009, but after London she failed to qualify for the 2013 world championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
She broke two minutes for the first time in two years at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, where she progressed to the semifinals. And now she is relishing her return to form.
"It's fantastic getting back here, enjoying what I'm doing, with a light body, not overweight," she said, explaining she had shed 5kg since arriving in Potchefstroom to work with coach Jean Verster in late 2014.
And Semenya is finally talking with confidence again, as if she's planning to go a lot faster.
"I'm just 25, I think I'm reaching my peak ... The main focus is the Olympics."
With Semenya and long jumper Luvo Manyonga returning to form, and Wayde van Niekerk retaining his world-class form, the SA track and field team could go to Rio with high expectations.
Also in contention could be 2015 world championship bronze medallists Anaso Jobodwana (men's 200m) and Sunette Viljoen (women's javelin), as well as 400m hurdler Cornel Fredericks, Lebogang Shange in the 20km walk and the men's 4x100m relay team.
SA's best Olympic athletics showing since readmission in 1992 was three medals - one silver and two bronze - at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Then, high jumper Hestrie Cloete, discus thrower Frantz Kruger and 400m hurdler Llewellyn Herbert reached the podium.
Semenya's early form a good sign for the Olympics
Even Caster Semenya has been surprised by her good early season form, during which she has achieved a 400m personal best.
EVEN Caster Semenya has been surprised by her good early season form, during which she has achieved a 400m personal best.
The 800m star clocked 51.47sec in Potchefstroom last weekend, and even the 52.48 she posted in Johannesburg this past Friday was among her best one-lap efforts.
"We're a little bit confused with the times we're running in the 400m," said Semenya, who hasn't spoken with this type of confidence since before the London Olympics.
"You must remember we've only done base work, we haven't touched on anything."
Semenya, who also ran the 800m leg of the medley relay on Friday, will compete in her first 800m individual race at the Varsity Athletics meet in Cape Town today.
"No high expectations, I'm just going to go with the flow," she said, adding that her main focus was the Rio Olympics in August.
Semenya has struggled with her form since winning the 800m silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
She clocked her 1:55.45 personal best winning the world championships in 2009, but after London she failed to qualify for the 2013 world championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
She broke two minutes for the first time in two years at the 2015 world championships in Beijing, where she progressed to the semifinals. And now she is relishing her return to form.
"It's fantastic getting back here, enjoying what I'm doing, with a light body, not overweight," she said, explaining she had shed 5kg since arriving in Potchefstroom to work with coach Jean Verster in late 2014.
And Semenya is finally talking with confidence again, as if she's planning to go a lot faster.
"I'm just 25, I think I'm reaching my peak ... The main focus is the Olympics."
With Semenya and long jumper Luvo Manyonga returning to form, and Wayde van Niekerk retaining his world-class form, the SA track and field team could go to Rio with high expectations.
Also in contention could be 2015 world championship bronze medallists Anaso Jobodwana (men's 200m) and Sunette Viljoen (women's javelin), as well as 400m hurdler Cornel Fredericks, Lebogang Shange in the 20km walk and the men's 4x100m relay team.
SA's best Olympic athletics showing since readmission in 1992 was three medals - one silver and two bronze - at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Then, high jumper Hestrie Cloete, discus thrower Frantz Kruger and 400m hurdler Llewellyn Herbert reached the podium.
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