WCT Los Angeles Grand Prix

Women’s 800m Results

1. H. Nakaayi (1:57.56) (NR)

2. T. Duguma (1:57.56)

3. S. Hurta (1.58.98)

Men’s 5000m Results

1. S. Barega (12.51.60

2. B. Aregawi (12.52.09)

3. J. Cheptegei (12.52.38)

4. J. Kiplimo (12.52.91)

Halima Nakaayi is not done yet. At least, as far as upgrading the national women’s 800m record is concerned.

Nakaayi bettered the record Saturday in Los Angeles, posting a personal best of 1:57.56 as she won the women’s 800m race in the Continental Tour Gold. It was the fourth time since 2019 that Nakaayi was breaking the record. 

To win the race, Nakaayi beat Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma in a photo finish, but as for her new record, it had a significant gap on the previous one of 1:57.62, which she set last year.

Two years before, Nakaayi had lowered the record to 1:56.03, which was two years after she shattered the record for the very first time. That was in the final of the women’s 800m at the 2019 World Championships, which she won with a time of 1:58.04.

It is impressive how many notable steps Nakaayi has made since winning the world title. Besides record-setting feats, she has also claimed bronze at the World Indoor championships, in addition to silver at this year’s African Games.

Her latest performance was celebrated with a joyful shriek and the promise to keep up the preparations for the Paris Olympics.

“I thank God; so far the preparations for the Olympics are good,” she said post-race. “So, since the main target is Paris, I have to enjoy every moment, as we wait to see how Paris will go. The preparations are going very well, we are working on a few areas with my coach Tim Robens. I’m embracing every moment.”

Talking of her performance, Nakaayi said, “the first lap was superfast but I had to just stay relaxed, stay calm and wait for the perfect time to kick and that was the last 100m.”

It took everything Nakaayi had, and after waiting to confirm the winner of the race, she was surprised to learn that not only had she won the race, she had done it in a national record.

Meanwhile, there was neither a win nor a record time for Joshua Cheptegei or Jacob Kiplimo, who competed in the men’s 5000m at the same event.

Cheptegei finished third in a time of 12:52.38, while Kiplimo came fourth in 12:52.91.

Cheptegei was content with his display, saying, “It is a blessing to see that I can still run under 13 minutes on the 5K”.

Although the Ugandan superstars did not win the race, the times were enough to secure Olympic qualification. Nakaayi had already booked her ticket to Paris.