Nyairera out to beat Semenya in Rio Games

Margaret Nyairera wins the 800m women's race at the Olympic National Trials held at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret town on July 01, 2016. Nyairera clocked 1:58:27. Nyairera plots to stop South Africa's Caster Semenya in their 800m showdown in Rio Games. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Semenya has a Personal Best of 1:55.33 in the 800m and 50.74 in the 400m, and has the potential as well in the 1,500m (4:01.99).
  • The South African was cleared to run as a woman, although this has not gone down well with many of her would-be opponents.
  • Nyairera has done a lot of speed work and endurance since winning the trials in an amazing 1:58 at the Kip Keino Stadium.

Every global track and field commentator has placed a bet on South Africa’s Caster Semenya running away with the 800m gold in Rio.

Many have even tipped her to complete a double by defeating fancied Alyson Felix of USA to snatch the 400m title, too, at next month’s Olympics.

The second ranked athlete in the 800m is Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba. Nobody is talking about Kenya’s latest prodigy, Margaret Wambui Nyairera.

But the 20-year-old is relishing the underdog role and taking everything a step at a time.

“Everybody wants to get victory in the Olympics Games next month. I will be do my best so that I get to the final,” said Nyairera modestly after a training at Eldoret’s Kipchoge Stadium.

Although she has much respect for Semenya, Nyairera is not about to be overawed by the controversial South African, saying the Olympics is a different ball game from the Diamond League circuit.

Semenya has a Personal Best of 1:55.33 in the 800m and 50.74 in the 400m, and has the potential as well in the 1,500m (4:01.99).

She has been on a hormone suppression programme since the world track and field association (IAAF) investigated her gender after claims she had dominant male hormones.

The South African was cleared to run as a woman, although this has not gone down well with many of her would-be opponents.

GIVE SEMENYA HARD TIME

“Semenya is a headache for us as a team. We hope get to the final first and run as one team so that we can give her hard time,” said Nyairera, who will team up with former world champion Eunice Sum and Winnie Chebet in the two-lap race.

“Semenya should be ready for any outcome,” the 2014 World Junior champion added.

Nyairera has done a lot of speed work and endurance since winning the trials in an amazing 1:58 at the Kip Keino Stadium, a time she improved at the Monaco Diamond League with a 1:56, only to be disqualified for stepping inside the lane.

Her start in Monaco was a bit of a problem too, and it’s an area she is polishing.

“I have done a lot of endurance and speed training and I’m now working on my starting before we leave for the Games,” she said.

Nyairera first shot into the limelight when she won the World Junior Championships title in Eugene, Oregon in 2014.

She also got a chance to represent Kenya in the World Championships held in Beijing but she didn’t make it to the finals.

This year during the World Indoor Championships held in Portland, USA, she managed to bag a bronze medal before representing Kenya in the Africa Championships where she got a silver medal in 400m and bronze medal in the 4x400 relay.

Nyairera is hopeful that Team Kenya will perform well at this year’s Games compared to 2012 London Olympics where the country managed to win only two gold medals.