Caster eyeing 35-year mark

While much of the attention in the build-up has surrounded American sprinter Justin Gatlin’s maiden appearance on South African soil, local favourite Caster Semenya (above) could steal the spotlight at the second leg of the Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix series in Pretoria tomorrow night.

The world and Olympic 800m champion confirmed yesterday she would chase the 35-year-old South African 1 000m record of 2:37:20 held by Ilze Wicksell.

And though she was relying on the likes of compatriot Gena Lofstrand and Ugandans Winnie Nanyondo and Halimah Nakaayi to help push the pace, she believed the record was in reach.

“The main target is to break the national record, but it depends how we run the first 800m. It’s all about the markings and hitting the splits,” Semenya said.

She was set to make her debut in the rarely run 1 000m event, but Semenya’s performances over other distances in recent years indicated she had the potential to obliterate the long-standing mark despite the altitude.

Last season she set a 600m world best of 1:21.77 and climbed to eighth place in the all-time global women's 800m rankings with a 1:55.16 national record.

After moving back to Pretoria from Potchefstroom, and linking up with new coach Samuel Sepeng after cutting ties with Jean Verster, Semenya said she was “on the right path” ahead of the Commonwealth Games next month.

“Obviously it’s still early in the season ... but we’re OK, and Thursday night will tell where we are.”