2023 World Athletics Championships – Women's 800 metres

Last updated

Women's 800 metres
at the 2023 World Championships
WKBO4626 800m W final Hodgkinson Reekie Mu (53173580953).jpg
The final of the event underway.
Venue National Athletics Centre
Dates23 August (heats)
25 August (semi-finals)
27 August (final)
Winning time1:56.03
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg   Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Silver medal icon.svg   Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Bronze medal icon.svg   Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  2022
2025  

The women's 800 metres at the 2023 World Athletics Championships was held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest from 23 to 27 August 2023. [1]

Contents

Summary

Featuring the reigning Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champions, who between them had dominated the global podiums since Tokyo in 2021, the women's 800 metres was one of the most hotly anticipated races of the championships. After winning the 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Championships, Athing Mu started looking for new horizons to conquer. Hurdler Sydney McLaughlin, also training under Bobby Kersee, staked out the 400 metres, so even though Mu was an NCAA Champion, sub-50 performer in that event, Mu focused her season efforts on the longer 1500 metres, only running one 800 metres race before these championships. 2022 silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson, who gave Mu a scare in Eugene, came in as the world leader for 2023; her only defeat, a tactical masterclass from Commonwealth champion Mary Moraa at the Lausanne Diamond League.

Drama ensued in the semi-finals as Mu and Prudence Sekgodiso collided, turning her sideways. After recovering her balance, Mu had to run around five athletes to get back to a qualifying second place behind 2022 bronze medalist Mary Moraa. British number two Jemma Reekie, under a fresh coaching team, impressed in the semi-final to put herself forward as a wild-card medal chance in the final.

In the final, Mu went out fast, first to the break line with Moraa uncharacteristically holding back. She was followed by Hodgkinson, Moraa, and Reekie. Mu was occupying the outside of lane one, taking as much space as possible. The group stayed together as the bell came at a swift but not brutal 56.6. Through the penultimate turn and down the backstretch, Mu tried to get separation, but with her backwards-leaning running style, Moraa would not go away. Hodgkinson and Reekie stayed tucked in close behind to make it a foursome. Having spent most of the race in lane two, coming into the home stretch, Moraa launched her kick, followed by Hodgkinson on the inside. When challenged, Mu had no answer. Moraa passed on the outside, and then Hodgkinson passed on the inside. Moraa continued on to a two-metre victory over Hodgkinson, who had her first major championship victory over Mu, but had to settle for a third consecutive global silver medal. Mu held on to finish two metres behind Hodgkinson for bronze, still six metres ahead of fast-closing Raevyn Rogers, passing Reekie as she had done in Tokyo.

The race was acclaimed as one of the highlights of the championships, reinforcing the emerging and dramatic three-way rivalry between Moraa, Mu and Hodgkinson set to dominate the event for years to come, and acknowledging Reekie as one of the women most likely to bridge the gap to the Big Three. [2]

Records

Before the competition, records were as follows: [3]

RecordAthlete & Nat.Perf.LocationDate
World record Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jarmila Kratochvílová  (TCH)1:53.28 Munich, West Germany 26 July 1983
Championship record 1:54.68 Helsinki, Finland 9 August 1983
World Leading Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Keely Hodgkinson  (GBR)1:55.77 Paris, France 9 June 2023
African Record Flag of Kenya.svg  Pamela Jelimo  (KEN)1:54.01 Zürich, Switzerland 29 August 2008
Asian Record Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Liu Dong  (CHN)1:55.54 Beijing, China 9 September 1993
North, Central American and Caribbean record Flag of Cuba.svg  Ana Fidelia Quirot  (CUB)1:54.44 Barcelona, Spain 9 September 1989
South American Record Flag of Suriname.svg  Letitia Vriesde  (SUR)1:56.68 Gothenburg, Sweden 13 August 1995
European Record Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jarmila Kratochvílová  (TCH)1:53.28 Munich, West Germany 26 July 1983
Oceanian record Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Catriona Bisset  (AUS)1:57.78 London, Great Britain 23 July 2023

Qualification standard

The standard to qualify automatically for entry was 1:59.80. [4]

Schedule

The event schedule, in local time (UTC+2), was as follows: [1]

DateTimeRound
23 August10:05 Heats
25 August20:25 Semi-finals
27 August20:45 Final

Results

Heats

The first 3 athletes in each heat (Q) and the next 3 fastest (q) qualified for the semi-finals. [5]

RankHeatNameNationalityTimeNotes
15 Nia Akins Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:59.19Q
26 Habitam Alemu Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)1:59.36Q
36 Catriona Bisset Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1:59.46Q
41 Keely Hodgkinson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)1:59.53Q
57 Athing Mu Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:59.59Q
67 Natoya Goule Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1:59.64Q
74 Halimah Nakaayi Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda  (UGA)1:59.68Q
85 Jemma Reekie Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)1:59.71Q
91 Prudence Sekgodiso Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)1:59.72Q
104 Adelle Tracey Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1:59.82Q, SB
112 Mary Moraa Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)1:59.89Q
123 Noélie Yarigo Flag of Benin.svg  Benin  (BEN)1:59.96Q
132 Raevyn Rogers Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2:00.06 [.052]Q
143 Christina Hering Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)2:00.06 [.053]Q, PB
155 Anita Horvat Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)2:00.06 [.055]Q
162 Worknesh Mesele Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)2:00.13Q
177 Lore Hoffmann Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)2:00.14Q, SB
185 Bianka Kéri Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)2:00.20q
194 Rénelle Lamote Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2:00.22Q
203 Abbey Caldwell Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)2:00.29Q
212 Jazz Shukla Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)2:00.30q, PB
222 Eloisa Coiro Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)2:00.36q
232 Gabriela Gajanová Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia  (SVK)2:00.39
241 Eveliina Määttänen Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)2:00.41Q
257 Annemarie Nissen  [ de ]Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)2:00.47
264 Claudia Mihaela Bobocea Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROM)2:00.54 PB
274 Louise Shanahan Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)2:00.66
283 Gabija Galvydytė Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania  (LTU)2:00.79
293 Léna Kandissounon Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2:00.81
307 Assia Raziki Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco  (MAR)2:00.91 PB
316 Flávia de Lima Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)2:00.92 [.912]Q, SB
312 Daniela García Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)2:00.92 [.912]
336 Hedda Hynne Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)2:01.00 SB
343 Audrey Werro Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)2:01.03
355 Rachel Pellaud Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)2:01.05
366 Lorena Martín Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)2:01.25
371 Vivian Chebet Kiprotich Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)2:01.26
386 Rose Mary Almanza Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2:01.33
391 Elena Bellò Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)2:01.38
407 Isabelle Boffey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)2:01.40
416 Majtie Kolberg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)2:01.41 [.401]
423 Naomi Korir Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)2:01.41 [.408]
434 Tigist Girma Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)2:01.47
447 Natalіia Krol Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)2:01.62 [.611]
454 Oratile Nowe  [ de ]Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)2:01.62 [.617] NR
461 Angelika Sarna Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2:01.78
476 Agnès Raharolahy Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2:01.93
484 Kaela Edwards Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2:02.22
495 Olha Lyakhova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)2:03.11
502 Margarita Koczanowa  [ pl ]Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2:03.23
515 Ellie Sanford Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)2:03.55
527 Anna Wielgosz Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2:03.61
533 Madeleine Kelly Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)2:04.72
545 Patricia Silva  [ de ]Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal  (POR)2:05.54
551 Lorea Ibarzabal Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)2:06.33
561 Perina Lokure Nakang ART flag (2022).svg  Athlete Refugee Team  (ART)2:15.84

Semi-finals

The first 2 athletes in each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final. [6]

RankHeatNameNationalityTimeNotes
13 Mary Moraa Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)1:58.48Q
21 Keely Hodgkinson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)1:58.48Q
31 Nia Akins Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:58.61Q, PB
43 Athing Mu Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:58.78Q
53 Halimah Nakaayi Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda  (UGA)1:58.89q
63 Adelle Tracey Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1:58.99q, PB
73 Abbey Caldwell Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1:59.05
81 Noélie Yarigo Flag of Benin.svg  Benin  (BEN)1:59.43
91 Worknesh Mesele Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)1:59.54
103 Eloisa Coiro Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1:59.61 PB
111 Eveliina Määttänen Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)1:59.81 PB
121 Catriona Bisset Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1:59.94
133 Jazz Shukla Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)2:00.23 PB
142 Jemma Reekie Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)2:00.28Q
152 Raevyn Rogers Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2:00.47Q
161 Anita Horvat Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)2:00.54
171 Flávia de Lima Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)2:00.77 SB
182 Natoya Goule Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2:00.78
192 Habitam Alemu Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)2:01.02
202 Lore Hoffmann Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)2:01.05
212 Rénelle Lamote Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2:01.25
222 Christina Hering Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)2:01.66
232 Bianka Kéri Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)2:01.68
243 Prudence Sekgodiso Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)2:11.68

Final

The final was started on 27 August at 20:45. [7]

RankNameNationalityTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg Mary Moraa Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)1:56.03 PB
Silver medal icon.svg Keely Hodgkinson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)1:56.34
Bronze medal icon.svg Athing Mu Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:56.61 SB
4 Raevyn Rogers Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:57.45
5 Jemma Reekie Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain & N.I.  (GBR)1:57.72
6 Nia Akins Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1:57.73
7 Adelle Tracey Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1:58.41 PB
8 Halimah Nakaayi Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda  (UGA)1:59.18

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References

  1. 1 2 "Women 800 Metres Timetable". World Athletics . Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. "Moraa dances with delight after fierce 800m fight in Budapest". World Athletics . 27 August 2023. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  3. "800 Metres Women − Records". World Athletics . Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  4. "Qualification System and Entry Standards" (PDF). World Athletics . 19 August 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. "Summary 800 Metres Women - Round 1" (PDF). World Athletics . 23 August 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. "Summary 800 Metres Women - Semi-Final" (PDF). World Athletics . 25 August 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  7. "Results 800 Metres Women - Final" (PDF). World Athletics. 27 August 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.