Mary Moraa will be hoping to put the dissapointment of missing out on the 800m Olympic title behind her with victory at the Laussane Diamond League on Thursday.
The women’s 800 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League is set to be a thrilling race, with Kenya’s Mary Moraa emerging as the standout favourite.
Mary Moraa is on a quest for her second consecutive victory at Athletissima, having claimed the title last year with a time of 1:57.43. Her remarkable season has only strengthened her position as the leading contender.
Mary Moraa has had an exceptional year, following her victory in Lausanne with a gold medal at the World Championships in Budapest, where she clocked an impressive 1:56.03.
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Moraa further demonstrated her class by securing a bronze medal in the 800 metres at the Paris Olympics with a time of 1:57.42. Her consistent performances make her the athlete to beat in this year’s race.
Challenging Moraa will be Great Britain’s Georgia Bell, who has made significant strides this season. Bell broke Laura Muir’s national record with a time of 3:52.61 in the 1500 metres, earning silver at the European Championships in Rome and bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris.
In the 800 metres, Bell has improved her personal best to 1:56.28, achieved at the London Diamond League meeting. Her rapid ascent in both the 800 and 1500 metres makes her a formidable competitor.
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Bell’s compatriot, Jemma Reekie, is also in contention. Reekie won the world indoor silver medal in Glasgow in 2024 and has demonstrated consistent form in recent years, including a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics and fifth place at the World Championships in Budapest.
This season, she improved her personal best to 1:55.61 in the 800 metres, setting the stage for a strong performance in Lausanne.
Another athlete to watch is Shafiqua Maloney from St. Vincent and Grenadines. Maloney surprised many with her fourth-place finish in the Olympic 800 metres final, clocking 1:57.66. She also showed promise in the 400 metres, improving her personal best to 50.63 earlier this year.
Renelle Lamote from France, who has earned three European silver medals and finished fifth in the Olympic final with a time of 1:58.19, will be a strong contender as well.
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Natoya Goule Toppin from Jamaica is another notable runner. Goule Toppin finished fifth in the World Championships in Eugene in 2022 and set a new national record with a time of 1:55.96 at the Diamond League in Eugene in 2023.
The field also includes Nia Akins and Allie Wilson, who secured the top two spots at the US Trials in Eugene with times of 1:57.36 and 1:57.52, respectively.
Halimah Nakaayi from Uganda, the world gold medallist from Doha 2019, has also improved her personal best to 1:57.26 this season, adding depth to the competition.
Finally, local Swiss interest will be represented by Rachel Pellaud and Audrey Werro. Pellaud and Werro, who finished first and second at the Swiss Championships, have personal bests of 1:58.60 and 1:58.67, respectively, and will be cheered on by the home crowd.
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With a star-studded line-up and Mary Moraa leading the charge, the women’s 800 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League promises to be a captivating event, showcasing some of the world’s best middle-distance runners.