Middle distance runner Halima Nakaayi and Sprinter Tarsis Orogot have advanced to the semifinals of their respective events at the ongoing 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Nakaayi won her 4 of the Women’s 800m in a time of 1:59.68 to progress to Friday’s semis.

Reaching the semis was expected for Nakaayi who won Gold in Doha in 2019.

But it’s work cut out for her in the semis where she has been placed in Heat 3 alongside Athing Mu (United States) and Mary Moraa (Kenya) who also won their respective heats.

The first two of each heat, plus the two fastest times will qualify to the final.

Tarsis Orogot qualified through to Men’s 200m semis. He finished fourth in his heat, outside automatic qualifiers,

And he progressed as one of the three athletes with fastest times. He ran 20.44.

The Semis are on Thursday at 9:20pm.