Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi takes to the track this afternoon aiming for a spot in the women’s 800m semifinals at the World Athletics Championships, determined to revive the form that made her 2019 world champion.
Drawn in a tough Heat Five at 2:30 p.m., Nakaayi must finish in the top three for automatic qualification, or advance as one of the three fastest outside the top spots.
She faces strong opposition from Britain’s Jemma Reekie, Kenya’s Lilian Odira, and Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele.
Since her golden run in Doha, Nakaayi has struggled with consistency, but today offers a fresh chance to prove she still belongs among the elite.
Uganda’s medal hopes also rest with Joy Cheptoyek, who needs a top-eight finish in the women’s 5000m heats to reach the final.
The team is coming off a difficult day after Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai fell heavily in the 3000m steeplechase final.
Leading early, she clipped a barrier with three laps to go and was stretchered off before being taken to hospital.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich won the race in 8:51.59, ahead of Bahrain’s defending champion Winfred Yavi and Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew.
Uganda, which claimed two gold medals at the 2023 Budapest championships, is still chasing its first podium finish in Tokyo, leaving Nakaayi and Cheptoyek to carry the nation’s hopes.
