TOKYO 2020: Moraa only survivor in Kenya's quest for 800m medal

Despite being less experienced in the distance compared to her teammates, former World Under-18 400m silver medalist Mary Moraa will be the only Kenyan representative in the women's 800m semi final. 

Running in the fourth heat, Moraa led for the first 300m but was fourth as the women took the bell, a position she held on to for the next 300m. She kicked late in the home stretch for third place in 2:01.66 in the heat won by World silver medalist Raevyn Rogers in 2:01.42 with United Kingdom's Keely Hodgkinson second in 2:01.59. 

This is Moraa's first major championship since taking a leap of faith to switch from the one-lap race in September last year and leaving it late to qualify for the Olympics in a personal best time of 1:59.25. 

Eunice Sum, Team Kenya's overall captain at the Tokyo Olympics was out of her depth in her heat, despite a decorated 800m career that includes a World Championship title in 2013 and an African championship silver as she finished sixth in her heat in a time of 2:03.00 to miss the semis in her third Olympics appearance. 

Sum took the bell in fifth place but looked strong and likely to move up the field. She, however, started to fade away, in the last 200m as Jamaica’s Natoya Goule stretched the field with ease to win the heat in 1:59.83. Benin’s Noelie Yarigo was second while Norway’s Hedda Hynne was third, picking the last automatic qualification slot from the heat.

Emily Tuei, the third Kenyan in the field finished last in her heat. 

With all the three 2016 medalists locked out of the competition thanks to the new testosterone rule, new medalists are set to be crowned for the Tokyo Games.