OREGON22: Moraa, Korir hunt 800m final slots

Kenya's two remaining representatives in the women's 800m go at it again on Saturday morning from 4.35 am (EAT) in the semi final as they look to qualify for the final. 

Former World Under-18 400m silver medalist Mary Moraa who has since switched to the two-lap race and has had a spectacular season carries Kenya's hopes for a medal in a loaded field but first, she has to make it past heat one of the semis. 

The Olympics semifinalist goes up against sub 2 minute runners in heat one with six of the eight starters in the heat having dipped under two minutes this season. 

Moraa goes up against the experienced Ajee Wilson and Renelle Lamote in the semis. Wilson, who won world outdoor bronze in 2017 and 2019 and has three world indoor medals, including the title she won in Belgrade in March, for her first senior global gold, goes on the heat as a favourite. 

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The other Kenyan representative, Naomi Korir, a world relay silver medalist made it through to the semis as one of the non-automatic qualifiers and has her work cut out in heat three that has the Olympic champion and fastest woman this year in the distance Athing Mu. 

At the Tokyo Olympics last August, Athing became the second US woman to win an Olympic 800m title. Now, on home soil at the championships, she has the chance to become her nation’s first ever winner in the event.

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Also in the third heat is the defending champion, Uganda's Halima Nakaayi who was a surprise winner in Doha three years ago but was unable to make the final in Tokyo. In March this year, she battled to bag bronze at the World Indoor Championships. 

The first two to cross the finish line from the three heats and the two fastest times that don’t get an automatic slot qualify for the final set for the final day of action.