TURKU, Finland (June 12) – The 2023 Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, will witness the showdown of nine exceptional women in the highly anticipated 800m race. Set to take place on Tuesday in Turku, this event will showcase athletes with impressive personal bests, targeting fast times, including the meeting record.
Nine Women with Personal Bests Faster than Two Minutes at 2023 Paavo Nurmi Games
Leading the pack are three women who have already achieved the feat of dipping under the 1:58 mark this season. Jemma Reekie from Great Britain, Halimah Nakaayi from Uganda, and Catriona Bisset from Australia are poised to be the frontrunners for the title in Turku. Read more: Paavo Nurmi Games 2023 women’s Hammer start list
The stage is set for a thrilling competition, as Bisset and Nakaayi seek improvement after missing out on the podium at the Paris Diamond League last week. Despite running sub-1:59 times, their performances were overshadowed by Keely Hodgkinson’s extraordinary world-leading time of 1:55.77.
Nakaayi, the 2019 world champion, and 2022 World Indoor bronze medalist, finished sixth in Paris with a time of 1:58.81. Meanwhile, Bisset, who secured a fifth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships, clocked 1:58.55, landing her in fourth position in Paris behind Hodgkinson.
Joining them in their quest for victory is Tokyo Olympics fourth-place finisher Jemma Reekie, whose last outing in Chorzów saw her clock a solid time of 1:58.94 for the victory. The talented British athlete will unite with Bisset and Nakaayi to challenge the meeting and stadium record of 1:59.84.
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The formidable field also includes Prudence Sekgodisa of South Africa, boasting a personal best of 1:58.41 and a season best of 2:00.39. Anita Horvat of Slovenia, who recorded a time of 2:00.70 this year but holds a lifetime best of 1:58.96, will add to the excitement.
Elsewhere, Brooke Feldmeier from the USA, Christina Hering from Germany, and Anna Wielgosz from Poland have likewise demonstrated their prowess by clocking times faster than two minutes in their best form. Aneta Lemiesz of Poland, with a personal best of 1:59.93, will lead the field as the pacemaker.
WOMEN’S EVENTS
800m Start List:
- Jemma Reekie (Great Britain & NI) PB: 1:56.90 SB: 1:58.94
- Halimah Nakaayi (Uganda) PB: 1:58.03 SB: 1:58.81
- Catriona Bisset (Australia) PB: 1:58.09 SB: 1:58.32
- Prudence Sekgodisa (South Africa) PB: 1:58.41 SB: 2:00.39
- Anita Horvat (Slovenia) PB: 1:58.96 SB: 2:00.70
- Brooke Feldmeier (United States) PB: 1:59.08 SB: 2:08.71
- Christina Hering (Germany) PB: 1:59.41 SB: 2:01.32
- Anna Wielgosz (Poland) PB: 1:59.84 SB: N/A
- Pace: Aneta Lemiesz (Poland) PB: 1:59.93 SB: N/A
- Ellie Sanford (Australia) PB: 2:00.50 SB: 2:00.50
- Eveliina Määttänen (Espoon Tapiot) PB: 2:01.14 SB: 2:01.96
