Paris 2024 Olympics: Dancing queen Mary Moraa vows to carry national hopes into women's 800m final

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Paris 2024 Olympics: Dancing queen Mary Moraa vows to carry national hopes into women's 800m final

Festus Chuma 05:23 - 05.08.2024

Mary Moraa advanced to the 800m final at the Paris Olympics having altered tactics to secure a spot after previous setbacks.

Mary Moraa has reacted with a mixture of relief and determination after securing her spot in the final of the 800m event at the Paris Olympic Games.

Moraa, who changed her usual front-running tactics, executed a strategic race to come from behind and win the first semi-final in a time of one minute and 57.86 seconds.

In the aftermath of her victory, Moraa expressed both joy and a sense of responsibility.

"During Tokyo, I was eliminated in the semi-finals. I've bounced back, and now I am in the finals. I feel the pressure, but I carry with me the hopes of my country in this race," she said.

The semi-finals proved to be a battleground of talent and emerging stars.

Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele clinched the second automatic qualifying spot in the same race as Moraa, finishing with a personal best of 1:58.06.

Meanwhile, the second semi-final saw a fierce competition where Ethiopia’s World Indoor champion Tsige Duguma led from start to finish, clocking a personal best of 1:57.47. Close on her heels, Shafiqua Maloney of Vincentian set a national record with 1:57.59, securing her final spot.

However, not all tales were of triumph as national 800m champion Lillian Odira and Vivian Chebet faced disappointment, with Odira finishing fourth and Chebet last in their respective semi-finals.

Odira, despite being the Africa 800m silver medallist, could not surpass the robust field in her heat, which was won by world leader Keely Hodginson from Great Britain in an impressive 1:56.86.

South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso also made a strong showing timing 1:57.57 to take the second place in the same semi-final.

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