Spencer ready to win in Birmingham

DEFENDING 400-metre hurdles Diamond League champion, Kaliese Spencer, the leader in this year's event after winning in Shanghai meet, looks set to pick up another win at tomorrow's Birmingham meet and extend her lead in the event.

Spencer with a season best of 54.71 seconds in winning in Shanghai will be up against American duo, Tiffany Williams and Cassandra Tate, who finished second and third respectively behind her in China. The Jamaican did not travel to Rome on Thursday but advertised her fitness by taking the 400m in 51.14 at last week's All Comers meet at the National Stadium

While both Americans will be looking to lower the colours of Spencer, the biggest challenge could come from home girl, Eilidh Child and defending World champion Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic. Child, the only other sub-55 seconds athlete in the line-up this season, following her 54.84 third-place finish in Rome on Thursday, will be hoping to go much faster.

Hejnova who opened her season at a Challenge meet in Beijing, had some

luck as World leader, Wenda Nel of South Africa, clipped the final barrier when in the lead. Hejnova then took advantage of her mishap to score the win as Nel faded to third. Despite clocking a moderate 55.13 seconds, Hejnova is expected to go much faster this time around, and with this being a World Championship year, she will be hoping to send a strong message to her rivals, including Spencer.

It has been a disappointing season so far for former World champion, Lashinda Demus of the United States, who is yet to hit her best form and will have to improve immensely if she is to finish ahead of Spencer, Hejnova and her American teammates.

Spencer seems to relish competing at the Diamond League meets and she should continue her winning ways here.