Budapest 23: Moraa takes control of semis to ease into 800m final

Commonwealth Games champion over 800m Mary Moraa continued her impressive form this year and in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary as she stormed to a semifinals victory in Heat Three, clocking 1:58.48.

The Kenyan champion and world leader wasted no time in the final semi final race on Friday night as she quickly established herself as the leader of the pack, easily maintaining the pace before adding some extra gear to finish ahead of her main rival - US World Champion Athing Mu - who came in second in a time of 1:58.78.

Uganda’s Halima Nakaayi - a World Indoor bronze medalist - was third in 1:58.89, with Jamaican Adelle Tracey timing a personal best time of 1:58.99, to cement her place in the final.

Both Tracey and Nakaayi secured slots courtesy of their times that guaranteed their progression as non-automatic qualifiers.

Mu was however fortunate to rally into second after she was involved in a collision with South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, to set up what will be an exciting final on Sunday.

Other qualifiers in the previous heats who might offer Moraa stern competition in the finals will be Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson - who won Heat One in 1:58.48, 2019 European U23 Champion Jemma Reekie - who topped Heat Two in 2:00.28, and US National Champion Nia Akins who posted a personal best time of 1:58.61.

Report: All FKFPL clubs league licenses, FC Talanta sanctioned

Sunday’s final is scheduled for 2045 EAT.