Easy run for Mariya Savinova in the 800m semis in Barcelona (© Getty Images)
Oslo, Norway - The women’s 800m at the EXXONMobil Bislett Games is already shaping as potentially the fastest race of the 2011 season. With the Samsung Diamond League heading to Oslo on Thursday 9 June for the series' fifth stop, a quality field will face the starter’s gun and quick times are virtually assured. Ireland’s Karen Shinkin is responsible to ensuring a fast, even pace that can give all the competitors a realistic chance of completing the two laps in well under two minutes.
Reigning European Champion Mariya Savinova has a best of 1:57.56. The Russian enjoyed a string of fast times last season and was most impressive in Barcelona, her powerful finish carrying her to an emphatic victory in 1:58.22 over the surprising Dutchwoman Yvonne Hak (also on the slate for Oslo) whose stirring second place in 1:58.88 reminded fans of the great Ellen Van Langen.
The ever enthusiastic fans in Oslo will “lift the roof” off Bislett stadium if local hero Ingvill Makestad looms up on the leaders' shoulder at any stage on the last lap. The stylish Norwegian who boasts a personal best of 1:59.82 has enjoyed a remarkable return to athletics after injury curtailed her career in middle of the last decade. She has meticulously prepared for this race and is undoubtedly chasing a new Norwegian record which the Bislett crowd would be immensely supportive of!
Britain’s Jenny Meadows has looked a first class so far this season, winning tactical races in both Shanghai and Hengelo and will be keen to revise her personal best of 1:57.93. Meadows has minor medals at World, World indoor and European championships and has developed a very powerful sprint finish.
Great interest will follow the World champion Caster Semenya who is steadily regaining her form. Her personal best is an impressive at 1L55.45, when she won her World title in Berlin in 2009 and most recently finished a strong second in Eugene clocking 1:58.88.
Another former World champion, Janeth Jepkosgei, is also rounding into very good form. The Italian-based Kenyan was World champion in 2007, where she recorded her best time of 1:56.08. She has subsequently placed second in both the Olympic Games and another World Championships. Jepkosgei recently showed excellent stamina in the 1500m at Rome’s Golden Gala, where she ran 4:04.87, just outside her personal best.
Two other Russians with outstanding personal bests are both coming to the Bislett Games to recapture their best form. Sevetlana Klyuka and Ekaterina Kostetskaya both represented Russia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, both have personal bests in the 1:56 range and both are looking to capitalize on a period of excellent pre-season training.
When all these outstanding competitors come together in the atmosphere at Bislett, there is only one thing you can expect - fast times!
Organisers for the IAAF
