Photo by Nicholas Bamulanzeki
David GOMBE
Uganda’s middle distance runner Halimah Nakaayi advanced to the women’s 800m final due on Sunday night.
The 2019 World champion in the distance finished third in the Semifinal Heat 3 with a time of 1minute and 58.89 seconds.
Nakaayi progressed to the final as one of the fastest two who finished third across all Heats.
The top two in each each qualify automatically.
Her Heat was won by Commonwealth Games 800m champion Mary Moraa who clocked 1:58.48
Reigning Olympic and World champion Athing Mu finished second in the Heat to advance.
Heat One was dominated by Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson who clocked 1:58.48 while USA’s Nia Akins finished second, clocking a Season’s Best time of 1:58.61.
In Heat Two, Jemma Reekie reigned supreme, clocking 2:00.28 to cut the tape ahead of USA’s Raevyn Rogers who finished second in 2:00.47. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule finished third in 2:00.78.
Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu will head into Sunday’s final as favourites. Mu is yet to lose in the final having won the 2020 Olympic title as well as the World title at the distance.