JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former world champion Caster Semenya is set to run her first 800-meter race of the Olympic year at a meet in northern South Africa on Saturday.
Semenya, who won silver defending her title at last year’s worlds, will compete in the 800 at Potchefstroom. She’s run just once competitively in 2012 — when she won a 400-meter race on March 3.
Semenya will run her first 800 with new coach and former Olympic champion Maria Mutola.
Athletics South Africa says men’s 400-meter hurdler and 2011 world bronze medallist L.J. van Zyl will line up in the 400.
The pair are South Africa’s best hopes for track medals at the London Games. It will be the first Olympics for the 21-year-old Semenya, if she makes the team.
