TRACK & FIELD type of arrogance that makes a person come across as a braggard , but the arrogance and confidence of one who knows what she is capable of , and who will not let anything stand in her way . Importantly , that confidence is justified . That is why , after she ran that 1:58 in May this year , Samuel and Prudence reassessed her targets for the World Championships in the USA . They decided that a place in the semifinals would be a good achievement .
Furthermore , Prudence was hoping to be drawn in the same heat as 2021 Olympic champion Athing Mu , as the American ’ s front-running style would suit her tactics perfectly . “ I wanted to be in the race with her . To be the best , you need to race the best , and she runs aggressively . I like that , because that is how I race . My dream is to one day hold the World Record in the 800m . I am young , I have time , and as long as I stay healthy , I know that it is within my reach .”
So where does this newfound motivation and confidence come from ? “ After the last two years , I made a decision to change my approach . I really believe in myself now , and that is because of my coach and the group ,” says Prudence , adding that while she is the only female in her training group , Samuel has built a group to aid her . That means she trains with male athletes who are just a little faster than her , which has helped her develop the speed , stamina and all-important self-confidence . In fact , she has improved so much over the last two years , that Samuel , a 1:48 runner in his day , sometimes battles to stay with her in training . “ But it is my coach who motivates me . He comes out and trains with me , and helps me . That means so much to me ,” says Prudence .
( Sidenote : The women ’ s 800m World Record of 1:53.28 has stood since 1983 , but many believe it was achieved with artificial assistance , even though Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova never failed a drug test . However , testing in the 80s was at best rudimentary , if done at all , and Beating that record would be an incredible achievement , as it would finally erase the longest-standing record in athletics , for men or women , and one that is arguably tainted . Only Pamela Jelimo of Kenya and Caster Semenya of South Africa have ever come within a second of beating that time , both posting low 1:54s .)
Making Big Plans
Prudence now has her eyes set on making the final at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest , Hungary next August , and then a medal in Paris at the Olympic Games in 2024 . “ Why not . She is strong , she is confident and has shown she can mix it with the best ,” says Samuel . However , he adds that this goal will mean less racing in the SA season . “ She had raced so much here in SA before the international season that she was already feeling tired by July this year . In fact , even before that ,” he adds .
Therefore , the focus during the South African season will be more on the 1500m , maybe even a 5000m or two , in order to build strength . “ ASA have also asked if she will be part of the SA Cross Country Team that goes to the World Championships in Bathurst , Australia in February . They want her to be part of the relay team . That , and the plan of doing longer races in South Africa , means we will start our 800m season later ,” says Samuel . “ After 2022 , we believe that is the way to go . Remember the World Championships are only in August , and we need to do what is right for Prudence . If the goal is the final in Budapest , then we need to restructure the season .”
To that end , Samuel and Prudence are speaking to coach Trevor Painter , who counts Britain ’ s Keeley Hodgkinson , the Olympic and World Championship 800m silver medallist , amongst his athletes , about the
First TV Interview
Having smashed a new PB of 2:02.16 at the 2020 Gauteng North Championships , Prudence was interviewed for television for the first time , for an Athletics South Africa documentary on emerging talent in the country . You can watch it via this link .
Prudence won the women ’ s elite race at the Under Armour All Out Mile in June
possibility of training with his group in Potchefstroom early next year . Trevor has been bringing his group to South Africa to train in Potchefstroom for many years , a recipe he has followed since the days he was coaching his wife , Jenny Meadows , who is now a World Athletics commentator . “ Nothing has been decided as yet , but is something we are looking at ,” says Samuel . “ If we do go ahead , then I will be with Prudence in Potchefstroom all the time .”
Whatever Prudence decides to do for training in 2023 , one thing is sure : South Africa has a real superstar on its hands , and do not be surprised if she follows in the footsteps of Caster Semenya and comes home with African , Commonwealth , World and Olympic Medals . After all , at the beginning of 2022 she was ranked 98th in the world . Now she is ranked 14 th .
That ’ s not surprising , given that by the time Prudence raced in Stockholm in June , where she broke two minutes for the third time , she had flown from South Africa to Nairobi and back home , to Rabat , Morocco and back , and to Mauritius for the Africa Champs and back , before flying to Stockholm , and that was followed by the trips to the USA and the UK . “ The travel was difficult , because there was a lot of backwards and forwards , and it was really tiring ,” says Prudence .
61