OLYMPIC champion and IAAF Golden Jackpot winner Pamela Jelimo is now targeting a return to the world of athletics at this year’s London Olympic Games. Jelimo said she is back and focused to compete in her 800m specialty after staying out of action for three years. Yesterday, she was in training with sprinters at the Nyayo Stadium in the first Athletics Kenya (AK) sprints and field events build-up competition. “My training has been successful and I am hoping this will continue as we approach the major events,” said Jelimo. “And with the look of things, I will be at the Olympics.” “I have embarked on early preparations since I want to keep fit, as I seek to make my comeback,” she added. “Today’s event is part of a series of build-up events that I am planning to run this year.”
She said she is also eyeing several races abroad before the Olympics including the World Indoor Championships. “I want to run many races to build up my confidence and be sure of myself heading into the Olympics,” she said. Jelimo clocked 52.0 seconds in the 400m race yesterday and said it was part of her endurance test that combines 200x100x100x400m. “I am putting a personal target of 50 seconds in the 400m and I am sure this will help me fine-tune my speed in 800m. Jelimo broke into the limelight in early 2008 and despite her lack of experience, went on to rule the world at the two-lap race, winning the IAAF Golden Jackpot and the Beijing Olympics in a junior world record of 1:54.87.
Unfortunately, just as fast as she came, Jelimo failed to hold onto her exploits and has been struggling with an injury that also restricted her participation at the 2009 Berlin World Championships that was won by her continental rival Caster Semenya of South Africa. AK sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki said yesterday’s event was meant to help the short races and field events athletes launch their training for the season as they seek to take a number of them to London for the Summer Games. “We have been starting our training in March but we have now decided that it will have to be early on, just like the middle and long distance races,” said Mwaniki. He said athletes who performed well in their disciplines will be considered for an AK clinic set for the same venue starting on February 2. Already identified for the clinic is Lanet Airbase’s Roseline Rakamba who managed a 40.96 throw in women discuss.
