EUGENE, Oregon (Sept. 17) – The top three finishers from last month’s Budapest World Athletics Championships are set for an electrifying rematch in the women’s 800m at the Eugene Diamond League Final, part of the Prefontaine Classic, on Sunday.
Budapest podium finishers reunite
Mary Moraa of Kenya, Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, and American Athing Mu, who delighted the audience in Budapest, are back at Hayward Field for an highly unexpected showdown.
Both Hodgkinson and Moraa own a Diamond League trophy and were expected to clash again.
Read more: Day 2 schedule: 2023 Eugene Diamond League Final start list, stream, results
However, Athing Mu, who was expected to close out her season after the world championships last month, joins the race as a wild card entry, adding another layer of intrigue.
Mu, who has clocked 1:56.61 this season, seeks redemption after being dethroned of her world title and pushed back to third place by the women she beat a year ago at Oregon 22.
Mary Moraa Enters as world champion; Keely Hodgkinson as world-leader
Mary Moraa, the reigning world champion, enters the race with a season and personal best of 1:56.03, setting the stage for another chapter in the trio’s ongoing rivalry. Hodgkinson, the world and Olympic silver medalist, leads this season with a time of 1:55.77, and is the only woman to break 1:56 this year.
Additional Contenders
The race could extend beyond a three-way contest. Britain’s Jemma Reekie, fresh off a road mile win in New York, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin, and Australia’s Catriona Bissett are also in the mix. Uganda’s 2019 world champion Halimah Nakaayi rounds out the competitive field.
USA’s Kaylin Whitney has been tasked with pacing the field through the opening 400m at 55.0 seconds.
The Eugene Diamond League Final is broadcasting live on the Wanda Diamond League YouTube Channel, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET. Fans in the USA can watch live on CNBC, NBC and Peacock TV.
| Rank | Nation | Name | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FRA | Rénelle Lamote | 1:58.42 | 1:57.84 |
| 2 | USA | Sage Hurta-Klecker | 1:58.09 | 1:57.85 |
| 3 | AUS | Catriona Bisset | 1:57.78 | 1:57.78 |
| 4 | JAM | Natoya Goule-Toppin | 1:57.53 | 1:56.15 |
| 5 | USA | Athing Mu | 1:56.61 | 1:55.04 |
| 6 | KEN | Mary Moraa | 1:56.03 | 1:56.03 |
| 7 | GBR | Jemma Reekie | 1:57.30 | 1:56.90 |
| 8 | GBR | Keely Hodgkinson | 1:55.77 | 1:55.77 |
| 9 | UGA | Halimah Nakaayi | 1:57.62 | 1:57.62 |
| 9 | USA | Kaylin Whitney (Pacer) Pace 400m – 55.0 sec |
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