Halima Nakaayi Narrowly Misses 800m Final at World Athletics Championships

Tokyo, Japan – Uganda’s athletes put on a spirited performance at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, showing promise for the future despite narrowly missing out on final spots in key races.

In the men’s 5000m heats, Kiprop Kenneth clocked an impressive 13:25.15 to finish 13th, while teammate Kibet Herbert completed the race in 13:52.36, placing 18th. Both athletes displayed resilience and determination in a highly competitive field.

On the women’s side, middle-distance star Halima Nakaayi delivered a strong run in the 800m semifinals, crossing the line in 1:57.79. However, the time was not enough to secure her a place in the final, leaving Uganda’s hopes in the event dashed for this edition of the championships.

The Uganda Athletics Federation praised the athletes for their efforts, noting that the performances highlighted the country’s growing depth in long- and middle-distance running ahead of future international competitions, including the Paris 2024 Olympics.