Kelly's eyes on Kluft

May 26 2007 By The Journal

Commonwealth heptathlon champion Kelly Sotherton is hoping that she has overcome a number of setbacks when she takes on world and Olympic title-holder Carolina Kluft at the IAAF Combined Events Challenge in Götzis this weekend.

The 30-year-old takes on Kluft for the first time since they fought a neck-and-neck pentathlon battle before the Swede prevailed by the merest of margins at the European Indoor Championships in March.

The pair's close encounter in Birmingham almost saw Sotherton inflict a milestone defeat on Kluft for the first time in five years, until the Scandinavian hung on to win by just 17 points.

Now the Birchfield Harrier will be hoping to match that performance to gain a morale boost in the build-up to August's World Championships despite having her training restricted since Birmingham. Sotherton said: "It's good to show your wares. I've not had a good couple of months since the European Indoors. First I had flu, which happened to a lot of athletes who competed in Birmingham, then I had a few injury problems.

"I missed five weeks of training altogether but before that I wintered really well and since the European Indoors I've had some good intermittent training sessions. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could compete well."

Sotherton will be hoping she can improve in the javelin after her poor showings proving costly in the last two years at the World and European Championships.

After missing five weeks training since her epic duel with Kluft, Sotherton will be competing against 10 of 11 of last year's top-ranked athletes.

North-East youngsters compete in this weekend's Northern Athletics Track and Field Championships at South Leeds Stadium. Competition is for Under-15s and Under-17s and the action both today and tomorrow (correct) starts at 10.30am (field) and 11am (track).

The fifth Raby Castle 10km Multi-Terrain event, takes place tomorrow, in the grounds of Raby Castle (11.15am start). Entries will be accepted on the day until 10.30pm at a fee of £10 (club) and £12 (unattached).

The second of the Heaton Harriers Jesmond Dene Handicap Series is on Monday night (7.30pm start). Late Entries will be accepted up to 7pm.