Nakaayi in 800m semi-finals against star-studded line-up

Halimah Nakaayi finished fifth at the 2023 Diamond League finals| Photo Credit: Twitter/DSTV

ATHLETICS Nakaayi in 800m semi-finals against star-studded line-up

Moses King 09:47 - 25.08.2023

Uganda's hunt for a second medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Budapest, continues with Nakaayi hoping to make it to the 800m finals.

The 2019 Doha World Champion Halima Nakaayi is set to compete in heat three in the 800m heats against a star-studded line-up.

Nakaayi, winner of her heat in the preliminaries, will battle against top stars, including 2022 world bronze medallist and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mary Moraa, reigning Olympic champion and 800m defending champion Athing Mu, South Africa Prudence Sekgodiso, Jamaica's Adelle Tracey among others.

In the other heat, Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson, a silver medalist in Eugene, is a clear favourite to make it to the finals.

Mary Moraa wows the crowd during Kip Keino Classic Photo by Eric Baraza

She will face competition from Nia Akins of USA, the swiftest in the heats, with an impressive time of 1:59.19.

Nakaayi will be determined to surpass her previous record, especially after an unanticipated absence from the finals in Oregon last year, where she failed to cut, dropping out at the semi-finals stage.

The anticipated 800m semi-finals will be at 9:27 pm (EAT).

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