Kenya's Mary Moraa jumped across the finish line in ecstasy after winning the women's 800m world title on Sunday in Budapest, ending Athing Mu's reign of the event.

The 23-year-old set a personal best time of 1min 56.03sec, while Britain's Keely Hodgkinson had to settle for silver, finishing in 1:56.34.

Mu, the Olympic and defending world champion who has yet to race much this year, came in third in 1:56.61.

Moraa and Hodgkinson had kept an eye on the tall Mu from the start.

Moraa, on the other hand, could keep up with the 21-year-old American superstar, while Hodgkinson decided to slow down as they approached the bell.


Mu shifted down the back straight, but Moraa wouldn't let go, and she was on her shoulder as they rounded the turn.

Mu maintained her advantage, but when Hodgkinson charged down the inside, Moraa, on the outside, edged out the American with 30 meters to go.

Hodgkinson also passed Mu, but she was too late for gold.

Moraa won the title to add to her Commonwealth Games gold from last year, with Hodgkinson finishing second.

Moraa lay down briefly before rising to her feet and dancing excitedly, as did her Kenyan teammates on the training track.