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Twenty-four competitors will go through to the semifinals of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Women’s 800m after this morning’s qualifying round at the National Stadium, August 15. Maria Mutola, competing for Mozambique, was the fastest qualifier with a time of 1:58.90, just ahead of Marilyn Okoro of Great Britain, who ran a time of 1:59.09.

Okoro’s countryman, Tyrone Edgar, was the fastest qualifier after round one of the Men’s 100m.

The twenty-five-year-old world record in this event was set by Jarmila Kratochvilova who competed for Czechoslovakia in a time of 1:53.28 seconds. The Olympic record of 1:53.43 seconds was set in 1980 by Soviet Union representative, Nadezhda Olizarenko.

The Women’s 800m finalists and their qualifying time:

1. Maria Mutola Mozambique 01:58.9

2. Marilyn Okoro Great Britain 01:59.0

3. Lucia Klocova Slovakia 01:59.4

4. Tamsyn Lewis Australia 01:59.7

5. Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei Kenya 01:59.7

6. Tetiana Petliuk Ukraine 02:00.0

7. Neisha Bernard-Thomas Grenada 02:00.1

8. Brigita Langerholc Slovenia 02:00.1

9. Egle Balciunaite Lithuania 02:00.2

10. Yuliya Krevsun Ukraine 02:00.2

11. Elisa Cusma Piccione Italy 02:00.2

12. Tatiana Andrianova Russia 02:00.3

13. Jennifer Meadows Great Britain 02:00.3

14. Zulia Calatayud Cuba 02:00.3

15. Sviatlana Usovich Belarus 02:00.4

16. Hasna Benhassi Morocco 02:00.5

17. Ekaterina Kostetskaya Russia 02:00.5

18. Olga Cristea Moldova 02:00.6

19. Svetlana Klyuka Russia 02:01.7

20. Rosibel Garcia Colombia 02:02.0

21. Anna Rostkowska Poland 02:02.1

22. Pamela Jelimo Kenya 02:03.2

23. Kenia Sinclair Jamaica 02:03.8

24. Elodie Guegan France 02:03.8

(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)