Ugandan athlete Halima Nakaayi will get to the track on Friday morning with all eyes set on impressing to make the finals of the 800m in Rio, Brazil.
She will be competing with a host of powerhouses; notably Kenya’s Margaret Wambui – winner of Kenyan Olympic Trials and Burundian Francine Niyonsaba – winner of the world indoor 800m crown in Portland.
The duo will be threats in the first semifinal and will line up alongside Nakaayi. However, South African Caster Semenya is the other competition the Ugandan will have to match.
Semenya who – registered three of the four fastest times in the world this year – will race in the third semifinal in pursuit of finals slot too.
Halima was with compatriot Winnie Nanyondo in the heats, but the latter narrowly missed progression despite leading for the first stretch.
Nanyondo lost the lead to Kenya’s Eunice Jepkoech, and she further slipped, cutting pace, to finish 6th, 47th overall in 2:02.77.
Nakaayi may have to beat her own record – a daunting task – if she is to reach further heights after posting a personal best of 1:59.78.
She nevertheless holds the mantle to revive Uganda’s fortunes in South America for this particular category.
