I’ve just started my sprint for gold in Berlin

Where did Pamela Jelimo go? That is what the world has been asking — until they were answered by the Olympic champion’s first sub-two minute run of the season.

Unbeaten in 12 straight races in a feat that, in the process, earned her the million-dollar (Sh77 million) IAAF Golden League jackpot, the 19-year-old policewoman has struggled to get her season off the blocks

Jelimo finished last and second last in her first two build-up races this season – in Rabat (2:02.46) and Eugene, Oregon (2:05.57). But these performances were the least of her worries as she upped her act to clock 1:59.59 at Saturday’s KBC meeting in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, signalling her comeback.

“To many, I was running badly, but to me it was just a normal training exercise. I took the results positively because I was just coming into competitive action,” she said.

Started late

Interestingly, Jelimo’s last victory over the two-lap race was also in Belgium, during last year’s Brussels Golden League meeting where she sewed up the race for the jackpot.

“My preparations have started late this year. I was so tired after the long 2008 season,” the 2008 Kenya sportswoman of the year said in an interview on Tuesday.

“In December, I was doing a long run when I stumbled and fell, injuring my left ankle. It was a painful experience and it set me back two months in training,” said Jelimo after light training at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Jelimo, who hold the World Junior record over the 800m distance (1:54.01 set in Zurich last year) returned to serious training in late March and was hurried into competitive running after just five weeks.

The outcome was a poor run in her debut this season in Rabat and Eugene.

“It was clear that I needed to work on my endurance. I trained hard, and I must thank my training partner and coach for keeping faith in me. But there was never any doubt in my mind that I would come back at the highest level,” she said.

In Heusden-Zolder, Jelimo gave her critics a reminder that they are yet to see her best.

To Jelimo, every race from now will be a chance for her to improve on her time. A sub-two minute was good, but not enough to secure her the World Championship title.

“The trials on Saturday will certainly give me another chance to improve. I relish the challenge because in Kenya there are many athletes coming up and no one is assured of a place. I have never relaxed since I won the Olympic gold; the World title is appealing too,” she said.

That will bring Jelimo into a direct challenge with World champion Janeth Jepkosgei and two new sensations – Cherono Koech, the World Youth champion who holds a personal best time of 2:01.67, and Jane Jelegat.

“I look at four athletes battling it out for the ticket to Berlin. Jelimo and Jepkosgei have secured the required 2:00.00 time, but Koech and Jelegat will give the challenge and hopefully make the cut,” said Julius Kirwa, the national athletics head coach.

However, Jelimo is alive with the challenge Russian athletes pose. European Indoor champion Mariya Savinova holds the current best time in outdoor competition with a time of 1:57.90, followed by Elena Kofanova (1:58.60) and Ukraine’s Yuliya Krevsun (1:58.62).

“Russians have started well in the campaign, but I am catching up and it is just a matter of time before we are at par. The performance in Heusden was not my personal best and I know I have room for improvement. I will take each race at a time,” she said.