Athletics, Doha Diamond League 2024: World champion Mary Moraa holds off Jemma Reekie in women’s 800m

Mary Moraa produced another tactical masterclass in the women’s 800m at the Doha Diamond League on Friday (10 May 2024).

Kenya’s reigning world champion was left in front at the bell when the pacemaker stepped off the track, and slowed the pace down with her rivals queueing up behind her.

World indoor silver medallist Jemma Reekie led the challengers, but she was unable to get past with Moraa – who won her first 800m race of the year in Nairobi last month – just staying in front before pulling clear in the home straight to win in 1:57.91.

Benin’s Noelle Yarigo, who took bronze behind Reekie in Glasgow, was third again ahead of Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu with Uganda’s former world champion Halimah Nakaayi in fifth.

Moraa, who beat Olympic champion Athing Mu and Keely Hodgkinson to claim her first world title in Budapest last year, showed the tactical speed which will make her perhaps the woman to beat at Paris 2024.