Kenya’s Mary Moraa moved a step closer towards atoning for her disappointment at the Tokyo Olympic Games as she advanced to the semifinal of the women’s 800 metres at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games.
Placed in Heat 5, the reigning World champion, broke little sweat in progressing to the next round as she clocked 1:57.95 to finish in second place behind Ethiopia’s Duguma Tsige who managed 1:57.90.
Maloney Shafiqua from St Vincent and the Grenadines took the other automatic spot after finishing third in 1:58.23, setting a new national record.
In Heat 6, Lilian Odira, who stunned Moraa at the Kenyan trials, ensured her progression to the semis with a late fight that saw her cross the line in third place.
The Olympic debutant clocked 1:58.83 to finish behind Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth.
Mary Moraa
Elsewhere, Vivian Chebet Kiprotich failed to book an automatic spot after finishing fifth in Heat 3 which is outside the top three places guaranteed an automatic spot.
The 28-year-old, who finished fifth in the 800m at the Kenyan Olympic Trials but earned her spot after the second-place finisher, Sarah Moraa, failed to secure a high enough ranking to qualify, will now have to go through the repechage route if she is to join Moraa and Odira in the semis.
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke