OREGON22: Kenyan trio hunt for semi slots in women's 800m

Olympian Mary Moraa will lead Jarinter Mawia and Naomi Korir in hunting for places in the World Athletics Championships the 800m semi-finals at the Hayward Field in Oregon on Friday morning from 3:10PM EAT.

The 22-year old will be hoping to carry the form she depicted during the trials held last month at the Kasarani Stadium where she recorded her personal best in the two-lap race to the global stage and ultimately, make to the podium.

The former World U18 400m silver medalist clocked an impressive 1:57.45 during the trials, a race she was under pressure from world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon.

The Kenya Police athlete is placed in heat six, and out of the nine athletes, she has the second-best time after Natoya Goule of Jamaica whose personal best stands at 1:56.15.

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Moraa sailed to the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics and will be hoping that her recent form and the experience scooped from taking part in the Diamond League races will come into play when she takes to the track.

Mawia, the African champion over the distance will be in heat one where she will be up against the 2018 world U20 champion Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia among other seasoned athletes.

Korir who will be debuting at the global stage so is Mawia will be in heat four that has home girl and world indoor champion Ajee Wilson. Defending champion Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda will battle it out with Olympic champion Athing Mu in heat three.

Kenya last tasted the global crown during the 2013 edition held in Moscow through Eunice Sum and the three athletes will have their work cut out. Sum, a 2015 bronze medalist who represented the country in the 2019 edition did not make to the Oregon team as she fell short during the trials.