Halimah Nakaayi felt at home and largely relieved after she produced a season best (SB) performance at the Wanda Diamond League (DL) leg in Doha, Qatar on Friday night.
On the back of a disappointing day in California, USA during the previous weekend, Nakaayi bounced back to post a third-place finish over the women’s 800 metres in the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
‘I am so very happy to be competing here!’ Nakaayi said after posting a time of one minute and 58.41 seconds.
‘I have the best memories from Doha, because being here always reminds me of the world title I won back in 2019. Whenever I am here I feel as if I need to defend my title, but finishing in the top three is okay too,’ Nakaayi added.
The result sparked huge confidence in Nakaayi considering she has spent a greater of the build-up to her season with strategic focus on endurance.
A lover of the inside lane, Nakaayi was tucked in early behind pace setter Dutch Lisanne de Witte, who took the field through 400 metres in 56.56 seconds.
Upon the bell, eventual race winner American Addison Wiley got ahead of Nakaayi and the duo surged forward. It was inside the home stretch that Ethiopia’s Tsige Dugume came through lane 2 to beat Nakaayi to second place in 1:58.08.
Already ahead, Wiley had won her first outdoor two-lap race of the season in a time of 1:57.98.
The result for the 2019 world champion Nakaayi came moments after Uganda Athletics (UAt) named her as part of the athletics team that will represent the country at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland next month.
Nakaayi is among the eight female athletes in a 17-member group named by UAt. The cast also includes two-time 3000 metres steeplechase Olympic medalist Peruth Chemutai and impressive long-distance runner Joy Cheptoyek.
Kenya-based Cheptoyek picked a silver medal at the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships in Florida, USA in January.
The more experienced Oscar Chelimo will lead the men’s group that comprises a bunch of rising stars like Keneth Kiprop, Dan Kibet and long jumper David Berkham Otim.
DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE
WOMEN’S 800 METRES RESULT
1 Addison Wiley (USA) 1:57.98
2 Tsige Duguma (ETH) 1:58.08
3 Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) 1:58:41
UGANDA ATHLETICS TEAM TO COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Women: Maureen Banura and Shida Leni (400 Metres), Halimah Nakaayi (800 Metres), Knight Aciru (1500 Metres), Peruth Chemutai (3000 Metres Steeplechase), Rebecca Chelangat and Esther Chebet (5000 Metres), Joy Cheptoyek (10000 Metres)
Men: Haron Adoli and Kenneth Omuka (400 Metres), Silas Chemutai (Mile), Oscar Chelimo, Dominic Kiprop, Dan Kibet and Keneth Kiprop (5000 Metres), Harbert Kibet (10000 Metres), David Berkham Otim (Long Jump)
Officials: Paul Okello (Coach / Manager), Jimmy Issamat (Coach), Quinto Oding (Coach / Physiotherapist), Suzan Laker (Administrator)