World Champs Womenâ€s 800 — Final Swipe Of A Kenyan Broom

Just No. 10 on T&FNâ€s premeet formchart, Lilian Odira raced to No. 7 all-time to take a scorching-fast final. (KEVIN MORRIS)

KENYAN WOMEN HAD OWNED the top of the podium in the middle and long distances at Tokyo25, sweeping the 1500 through the marathon. But the challenge of adding the 800 to the ledger on the last day was formidable.

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson was one of the meetâ€s stronger favorites, despite coming back from injury with just two meets in â€25. But the Brit had dominated in Chorzów with a WL 1:54.74 and the Diamond League Final in the rain (1:55.69).

Yes, Mary Moraa was the defending champ leading a trio of Kenyans, but she only had a â€25 best of 1:57.83 (1:56.03 PR) and teammates, Lilian Odira and cousin Sarah Moraa, were relatively inexperienced. The former was 25, but had returned to competition less than two years ago after having two children. The latter, who Mary calls her “kid sister,†was just 19 and in her first senior global championship after winning the World U20s in â€24.

That said, Odira impressed from the get-go here. With a PR of 1:56.52 that placed 2nd to Hodgkinson in Chorzów, she won her heat in 1:57.86. That was the fastest-ever first-round mark at a Worlds. Odira then took her semi in 1:56.85. But taking a leap into the all-time elite? Thatâ€s exactly what she did in the final.

The pace was blazing from the start. The elder Moraa, starting on the inside, went immediately to the front and passed 200 in 26.35, followed by Hodgkinson, Switzerlandâ€s rising star Audrey Werro, Odira and Brit Georgia Hunter Bell. Moraa actually drifted a little wide at 200, as if to try and let Hodgkinson take over, but she did not take the bait.

Moraa still led at halfway, a sizzling 55.67. Werro drew nearly even with Hodgkinson, while American Sage Hurta-Klecker did the same with Hunter Bell. Odira dropped back to 6th.

Moraa continued to leave space on the inside for Hodgkinson to pass, which she did briefly around 500 before the Kenyan moved back ahead. Finally just after 600 (1:25.21), the Brit pushed through with a definitive surge.

Around the final curve, Hunter Bell also moved past inside of Moraa and set up a possible GB 1–2. Werro was dropping back, but Odira went around Moraa into the homestretch and set after the leaders. Hunter Bell had moved outside in her chase of her teammate and Odira came up from the outside on both of them.

With her terrific 14.46 final 100, finishing a 58.35 closing lap, Odira passed Hodgkinson with about 15m left to triumph in a WL 1:54.62, No. 7 all-time. Hunter Bell tagged her teammate right at the line, 1:54.90–1:54.91.

Odiraâ€s magical move understandably sent her fellow gold-medalist teammates Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon, watching in the stands, into a happy tizzy. She had lowered her PR by a jaw-dropping 1.90, broken WR-holder Jarmila Kratochvílováâ€s meet record from the first Worlds in â€83, and given her nation its clean sweep between 800 and the marathon.

Besides taking down the meetâ€s oldest record, the race was historically deep. Never before had 3 women broken 1:55 in a race and it was the first time 5 had surpassed 1:56. The younger Moraa (1:55.74 with a 14.48 finish) and Hurta-Klecker (1:55.89) both passed Mary Moraa (1:57.10) late.

Best-ever marks-for-place were set or equaled for 3rd–8th (with the 1:55.74 in 4th tying Anita Weissâ€s â€76 Montréal time). Hurta-Klecker became the third U.S. woman to break 1:56, trailing only Athing Mu and Ajee†Wilson all-time. That Jessica Hull could finish 8th in 1:57.30, a mark that would have been an Australian record had Hull not run faster in her semi, was a final testament to the raceâ€s quality.

“Our main aim was retain the title back at home,†said Odira. “We worked as a team and I think we said let the best win. So Iâ€m happy for my friend Mary, here, and Sarah. Weâ€ve made it.â€

WOMENâ€S 800 RESULTS

FINAL (September 21)

1. Lilian Odira (Ken) 1:54.62 PR (WL) (7, 8 W)

(26.79, 29.48 [56.27], 29.52 [1:25.79], 28.83)(56.27/58.35);

2. Georgia Hunter Bell (GB) 1:54.90 PR (9, x W)

(26.81, 29.27 [56.08], 29.38 [1:25.46], 29.44)(56.08/58.82);

3. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:54.91

(26.50, 29.35 [55.85], 29.36 [1:25.21], 29.70)(55.85/59.06); 4. Sarah Moraa (Ken) 1:55.74 PR

(27.10, 29.38 [56.48], 29.94 [1:26.42], 29.32)(56.48/59.26);

5. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 1:55.89 PR (3, 5 A)

(27.28, 28.78 [56.06], 29.88 [1:25.94], 29.95)(56.06/59.83); 6. Audrey Werro (Swi) 1:56.17

(26.61, 29.25 [55.86], 29.84 [1:25.70], 30.47)(55.86/60.31);

7. Mary Moraa (Ken) 1:57.10

(26.35, 29.32 [55.67], 29.54 [1:25.21], 31.89)(55.67/61.43);

8. Jessica Hull (Aus) 1:57.30

(28.34, 28.95 [57.29], 29.53 [1:26.82], 30.48)(57.29/60.01).

(best-ever mark-for-place: 3, =4, 5–7, =8)

HEATS (September 18)

I–1. Hodgkinson 1:59.79; 2. Assia Raziki (Mor) 1:59.82; 3. Clara Liberman (Fra) 2:00.17; 4. Roisin Willis (US) 2:00.24; 5. Caroline Bredlinger (Aut) 2:00.25; 6. Anita Horvat (Slo) 2:00.66; 7. Marta Mitjans (Spa) 2:00.67; 8. Déborah Rodríguez (Uru) 2:03.18; 9. Perina Lokure Nakang (ART) 2:10.13.

II–1. Anaïs Bourgoin (Fra) 1:58.43; 2. Moraa 1:58.44; 3. Gabriela Gajanová (Svk) 2:00.44; 4. Veronica Vancardo (Swi) 2:01.13; 5. Rocío Arroyo (Spa) 2:01.34; 6. Jazz Shukla (Can) 2:01.42; 7. Adelle Tracey (Jam) 2:01.70; 8. Nigist Getachew (Eth) 2:02.42.

III–1. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 2:01.53; 2. Maggi Congdon (US) 2:01.74; 3. Eloisa Coiro (Ita) 2:01.86; 4. Kelly-Ann Beckford (Jam) 2:02.63; 5. Nelly Jepkosgei (Bhr) 2:02.79; 6. Angelika Sarna (Pol) 2:02.81; 7. Rin Kubo (Jpn) 2:02.84; 8. Shafiqua Maloney (StV) 2:03.12.

IV–1. Werro 1:58.43; 2. Hurta-Klecker 1:58.43; 3. Anna Wielgosz (Pol) 1:58.63 PR; 4. Abbey Caldwell (Aus) 1:58.71; 5. Lorea Ibarzabal (Spa) 2:00.60; 6. Moraa 2:01.62; 7. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 2:03.43; 8. Soukaina Hajji (Mor) 2:06.80.

V–1. Odira 1:57.86; 2. Daily M. Cooper (Cub) 1:58.16 PR; 3. Worknesh Mesele (Eth) 1:58.46; 4. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:58.57; 5. Jemma Reekie (GB) 1:59.35; 6. Hongjiao Wu (Chn) 2:01.38; 7. Smilla Kolbe (Ger) 2:01.74; 8. Eveliina Määttänen (Fin) 2:02.55.

VI–1. Hunter Bell 1:58.82; 2. Gabija Galvydytė (Lit) 1:58.86; 3. Claudia Hollingsworth (Aus) 1:59.06; 4. Renelle Lamote (Fra) 1:59.32; 5. Margarita Koczanowa (Pol) 1:59.37 PR; 6. Lore Hoffmann (Swi) 1:59.76; 7.. Pooja (Ind) 2:01.03 PR;… dnf—Charne Swart (SA).

VII–1. Natoya Goule-Toppin (Jam) 1:59.66; 2. Oratile Nowe (Bot) 2:00.09; 3. Maeliss Trapeau (Can) 2:00.38; 4. Majtie Kolberg (Ger) 2:00.64; 5. Vivian Chebet (Ken) 2:00.68; 6. Elena Bellò (Ita) 2:02.14; 7. Hull 2:13.42;… dnf—Prudence Sekgodiso (SA).

SEMIS (September 19)

I–1. Moraa 1:58.40; 2. Hunter Bell 1:58.62; 3. Coiro 1:59.19; 4. Hollingsworth 1:59.50; 5. Goule-Toppin 1:59.58; 6. Lamote 1:59.94; 7. Congdon 1:59.95; 8. Daily M. Cooper 2:03.00.

II–1. Odira 1:56.85; 2. Werro 1:56.99; 3. Hull 1:57.15 NR; 4. Hurta-Klecker 1:57.62; 5. Duguma 1:57.70; 6. Nakaayi 1:57.79; 7. Raziki 1:57.87 PR; 8. Galvydytė 1:57.96 PR; 9. Liberman 2:04.12.

III–1. Hodgkinson 1:57.53; 2. Moraa 1:57.53 PR; 3. Bourgoin 1:58.00; 4. Nowe 1:58.43; 5. Caldwell 1:58.44; 6. Trapeau 1:58.90 PR; 7. Gajanová 1:59.16; 8. Wielgosz 1:59.72; 9. Mesele 2:00.91.

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