The 1000m is a seldom run event, making it difficult to judge and an intriguing battle between 1500m and 800m specialists. For most in the line-up on Thursday, 08 March 2018, this will be new territory.
Caster Semenya will line up as the race favourite with the fastest 800m time in the field by some margin. That said, this will be the first time that the double Olympic and triple world champion lines up in the 1000m race. Semenya has run three 400m races this year and one 1500m clocking times of 51.84sec, 54.38sec and 52.54sec respectively in the 400m on 10, 23 and 24 February and 4:23.36 for the 1500m on 3 February. All races were run at Tuks, Pretoria. She was a bronze medalist in the 1500m at 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
Winnie Nanyondo of Uganda, boasts a best of 1:58.63 and finished 2nd at the inaugural Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Series Meeting at Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort in the 800m behind her country woman, Halimah Nakaayi, clocking 2:02.84. Just as with Semenya, the 1000m race is a novelty for Nanyondo and she too will be in unknown territory. The 800m in Roodepoort was the first race of her 2018 season.
Halima Nakaayi won in Roodepoort at the first Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Series Meeting, last Thursday, beating her more fancied country women, Winnie Nanyondo. She clocked 2:01.44 – her 5th best time ever. She also has not run a 1000m in a race before.
Gena Lofstrand finished 3rd at the Roodepoort Meeting in the 800m last week Thursday, clocking a seasons best 2:03.56. This is the 8th best time in her career. Lofstrand has run four races this year, two 400m races and two 800m races, posting times of 54.7sec (hand timed) in both her 400m runs on 27 January and 17 February, respectively. She also ran her first 800m of the season on 27 January, clocking 2:05.13.
Tsepang Sello is the Botswana national 800m record holder. She finished 4th at the Meeting last Thursday with a time of 2:06.40. There is also no record of her running a competitive 1000m race.
Liza Kellerman as a Youth athlete (U18) ran 2:05.75 in Stellenbosch in 2016, she too will make her debut over 1000m on Thursday, 08 March at Tuks. She finished 7th in the 800m in Roodepoort on Thursday, 01 March, crossing the line in 2:08.96. Kellerman is still a Junior athlete (18-years-old).
Keletso Senosi is only 16 years old and will profit immensely from racing against a line-up of this calibre. She has a best of 2:09.93 run on 17 March 2017 in Tshwane. Senosi also ran in Roodepoort last Thursday to finish 8th in 2:10.36 – the third best time of her young career.
Prudence Sekgodiso clocked her best time ever over 800m last Thursday at Roodepoort, running 2:06.96 to finish 5th overall.
EVENT INFORMATION: Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix Series
The Liquid Telecom Athletix Grand Prix is more than just a show, it enables athletes the opportunity to compete against South African and global talent; for them to be nurtured and invested in, so that they have the potential of becoming green and gold medalists.
Dates and Venues:
| Thursday, 08 March 2018 | Tuks Stadium, Tshwane |
| Thursday, 22 March 2018 | Dal Josaphat Stadium, Paarl |
Ticket Prices:
Main Pavilion Tickets
| Standard Ticket: | R 100 each |
| Children under 16 years of age: | R 50 each |
Open Stand/Grass Banks
| Standard Ticket: | R 50 each |
| Children under 16 years of age: | R 50 each |
ONLINE TICKET SALES are open and can be purchased via www.webtickets.co.za
Tickets can also be purchased at the gate of each event.
Visit the event’s Facebook page for regular announcements!
Facebook: AthletixGrandPrix
Twitter: @AthletixGP
Website: www.athletixgrandprix.com
ABOUT LIQUID TELECOM
Liquid Telecom is a leading communications services and solutions provider across 13 countries in Eastern, central and Southern Africa that serves carrier, enterprise and retail customers with high-speed, reliable connectivity and digital services.
It has built Africa’s largest independent fibre network, spanning over 50,000km, and operates state-of-the-art data centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nairobi, with a combined 6,800 square meters of rack space.
This is in addition to leading cloud-based services, such as Microsoft Office365 and Microsoft Azure, and innovative digital content provision, including Netflix, NBA, TED and Kwese Play.
Through this combined offering, Liquid Telecom is enhancing customers’ experience on their digital journey.
About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, which is a member of the IAAF, and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association is based in Johannesburg.