KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Former Indiana State track & field athlete Erica Moore captured the bronze medal in the women's 800 meters as she ran a personal best 1:59.97 to finish third at the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey.

Moore pushed the pace through the first two laps of the women's 800m to pick up a bronze medal for Team USA. Moore, the 2012 USA Indoor Champion and on her first World Championships team, ran a personal best time of 1:59.97.

"It was terrifying," Moore said after the race. "I knew they would be coming. The problem is that I feel comfortable at that fast pace. It might not have been the best move, but I wouldn't change it now. I didn't think I had a chance to medal. I thought I could get out of the prelims. This was 100 times harder than the prelims. It tells me that I can run two-minutes comfortably."

Moore took the lead early and was in front at the 200 meter mark (28.13) and the 400 meter mark (57.69). Russia's Elena Kofanova took the lead at the 600 meter mark (1:28.07) but could not hold the advantage.

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo won the event in a very close finish with a time of 1:58.83 which is the best time in the world this season. Nataliia Lupu of the Ukraine edged Moore by three-tenths of a second for second place (1:59.67). Fantu Magiso of Ethiopia was fourth (2:00.30), Kafanova faded to fifth (2:00.67) and Russian teammate Yuliya Rusanova was sixth (2:01.87).

Moore ran 2:00.24 and finished second in the third heat of the preliminaries Friday which was the third fastest time of the three heats. Jelimo has the fastest time entering the finals at 1:59.10 with Kofanova second at 1:59.63.