OREGON22: American duo of Mu and Ajee stand between Moraa and 800m glory

Kenya last won a World Athletics 800m championship medal in the ladies category back in 2015 when former champion Eunice Sum clinched bronze in Beijing, China.

However, there is a ray of hope in the high-flying Olympian Mary Moraa who the country has stashed hopes of redemption in the two-lap race final on Monday morning.

Given the ease in which the 22-year old navigated past the first round and the semis and her impressive times this season, she is a contender for a medal, in a field that has equally strong athletes.

She comes up against Olympic champion Athing Mu of the United States who literally jogged to victory in the first round and semis, sending a clear message of her intention to be crowned the World champion.

Tokyo silver medalist Keely Hodgkison who was also in a class of her own in the qualifying rounds and who has the second best time from the eight athletes who will grace the final.

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The English woman has her personal best at 1:55.88 and a season best of 1:57.20.

The 2019 silver and bronze medalists; Raevyn Rogers and another pre-race favorite Ajee Wilson, both of the United States are also in the final so is Natoya Goule of Jamaica and the 2018 World U20 Champion Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia.

Moraa, a former World U18 400m silver medalist has shown some imposing progress this season, clocking her personal best of 1:57.45 in the Kenyan trials and will head to the final hoping that the competition will push her to the medal bracket given that she has she has been doing well while under pressure.

Meanwhile, World U20 800m champion in the men's category Emmanuel Wanyonyi is happy to have finished fourth in the final held on Sunday morning.

The 17-year old rued inexperience for the fourth place finish but he is confident of a medal-laden future at the senior level.

"I am contended with the fourth place finish in my first race at the senior level in a major championship. I raced from the back and when I kicked in, it was a little bit late but I am satisfied withy performance. I know I will win when the right time comes, "he said.