TOKYO 2020: Final slot at stake for Moraa as she takes on big guns in the 800m semis

National 400m champion Mary Moraa will face stiff competition in her quest to sail to the Olympics 800m final from reigning World champion Halimah Nakaayi and American record holder Ajee Wilson among other seasoned athletes in the semifinals scheduled for Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.

Moraa advanced to the semis after prevailing in the first round which proved a tough hurdle to the duo of 2013 world champion Eunice Sum and Emily Tuei who finished outside the top three in their respective heats.

With the top two athletes from the two semis set to book a slot in the final, the fast-rising Moraa who transitioned from 400m last year to the two-lap race will hope to upset the star-studded field and qualify to the final.

She clocked 2:01.66 to finish third in the first round behind Keely Hodgkinson and World silver medalist Raevyn Rogers.

Ajee who doubles up as a world bronze medalist boast of having the best time in the heat which stands at 1:55.61 while Nakaayi who clinched gold during the 2019 world championship has her personal best at 1:58.03.

Moraa whose best time in the two-lap race is 1:59.25 will also run shoulders with serial winner and Jamaican Goule Natoya who won bronze in the 2018 Commonwealth games.

Meanwhile, as Moraa shoulders the slim hopes for a medal in 800m, the fastest men in the country Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno will be hoping to make it to the second round of the 100m.

The two sprinters defied odds to qualify for the Olympics after meeting the 10.05 qualification time. Omanyala is placed in heat five while Otieno is in heat four.