Semenya struggles yet again
The event opens on Wednesday and will see the athletics begin on Sunday.
The camp has allowed many athletes to undertake their final preparation on the European circuit and saw Wenda Nel put in a useful 55.29 in the 400m hurdles at Friday night's Monaco Diamond League.
Nel finished fifth behind the experienced Jamaican, Kaliese Spencer, who was pleased with the 54.09 on her comeback trail.
“It was an amazing experience. I am very happy with my performance in Monaco and I believe I'm right on track for the Games,” Nel said on Sunday. “My first goal will be to reach the final and from there fight for a medal.”
Moscow bronze medalist, Johan Cronje, faced a strong field in the 1500m which saw the pacemaker go through 400m in a super fast 54 seconds, stringing the field out behind him. The South African was more cautious and content to sit off the pace, hoping to pick up as the race unfolded. However, the race provided a Diamond League record of seven athletes under 3 minutes 30 seconds, with Silas Kiplagat securing victory in 3:27.64, which is the best time in the world this year. Cronje had to settle for a 12th place in 3:33.69, which was only 2 seconds off his personal best.
Botswana’s Nigel Amos had a rare win over 800m world record holder, David Radisha, to set a year's best time of 1:42.45. Radisha had led into the home straight, but Amos fought back to catch the tiring Kenyan who eventually had to settle for fifth in 1:42.98. The top 7 set either personal or season's bests, giving a good indication of the quality of the field.
It was not the fastest of races on Saturday in Madrid, but Andre Olivier was just piped at the post in the 800m by Job Kinyor of Kenya who was clocked at 1:46.11. Olivier ended 0.02 seconds adrift in the dive for the line.
Khotso Mokoena and Zarck Visser were in action in the long jump leaping to 8m and 7.94m respectively. However, it was Eusebio Caceres, the home town favourite, who took the honours with an 8.16 jump that was assisted by a 4.6m/second wind.
In the women’s 100m sprint Carina Horn was clocked with the same 11.16 second time as third placed La Keisha Lawson of America, but given fourth position. Barbara Pierre and Jamaican, Kerron Stewart, were also tied on time at 11.08, with the American given the nod in the photo finish.
South Africa’s 2009 golden girl, Caster Semenya, continues her struggle for form in the 800m where she never looked to be in contention and finished 11th and last in 2:06.84. Briton, Lynsey Sharp, won the race in 1:59.72. There was absolutely no glimmer of the Semenya who had posted times around 1:55 and 1:56 at the World Championships.
Back in Durban, Irvette van Zyl won a gun to tape victory in the Durban leg of the Totalsports Ladies Race on Sunday, taking line honours in 33 minutes 49 seconds.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre