Semenya, Montsho, Nel test in rare race

Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya will get into the blocks in a rare 300m raceagainst Botswana’s Amantle Montsho and South African 400m hurdles ace Wenda Nel at the Sasol-NWU International Athletics meeting in Sasolburg tomorrow.

The race will see three of the continent’s best female athletes in their respective specialist events take each other on over the odd distance.

Montsho, the 2011 world champion in the one-lap sprint is making her return to the track after serving a two-year ban for testing positive for methylhexaneamine.

Semenya opened her season with a personal best in the 3000m at the Athletics SA (ASA) Speed Series in Potchefstroom a fortnight ago.

Nel is yet to run a 400m hurdles race this season and has participated in the 200m at the Athletics Gauteng North Championships last weekend and a 400m in Potchefstroom Speed Series.

“We are still trying to arrange a few more girls to almost fill the lanes because it was a last-minute decision,” Nel said.

“I am keen on racing something different, so I am looking forward to it … the last time I remember I ran a high-38 seconds over the 300m but I am feeling faster in training.”

Montsho boasts a 300m personal best of 36.33 seconds while it is unclear what Semenya’s lifetime best time is over the seldom run distance.

Boasting a 400m PB of 50.40 seconds and given her incredible ability ranging from the 400m to the 1500m, Semenya could post a fast time over the 300m.

“She’s (Semenya) got such a strong head that she can get into the blocks in any event and do well.

“She wanted to race the 200m while there was also a 400m so we asked her if she would be interested in racing the 300m,” Nel said.

Heide Seyerling-Quinn holds the South African 300m record with a time of 37.02secs she posted in Sydney in 2000.

OCKERT DE VILLIERS