Hunter beats birthday girl Mary Moraa at her own game in Stockholm

Georgia Hunter Bell went from sixth place to first, taking the women's 800m at the Stockholm Diamond League (DL) in a Season's Best (SB) of 1:57.66, denying birthday girl Mary Moraa.

The Kenyan, a two-time DL champion settled for second in 1:57.83, while World Indoor Champion Prudence Sekgodiso of South Africa was third in 1:58.00.

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The 2023 World Champion was making her first appearance in the DL this season, coincidentally on her 25th birthday.

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After a series of runs in the Grand Slam Track, the Olympic bronze medalist kickstarts her hunt for the title she won last year on a losing note.

In classic Moraa fashion, she shot to the front, just behind the pacer and continued to dictate pace even when the athlete tasked with the job was steps ahead of everyone.

Taking the bell still at the helm, Moraa held on, chased down by the South African and Switzerland's Audrey Werro. She looked destined for victory, but Hunter, who was in sixth place with 300m to go, kept eating at Moraa's lead, denying her in the final metres for a 1:57.66 season best. Sekgodiso was third in 1:58.00.

"I was very happy with a season's best of 1:57. I had some tiredness in my legs from the national championships and the grand slam so I did not know what to expect. I could hear the crowd in the last 100m so I sensed someone was coming up behind me. I was running as fast as I could so was unable to hold onto first place but that is how competition goes," Moraa told the media after the race.

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