Moraa, Sekgodiso renew rivalry in Rabat

In a repeat of the Kip Keino Classic held in May, Olympian Mary Moraa is set to renew rivalry with the Continental Tour meeting winner, South African Prudence Sekgodiso in the women's 800m at the Rabat Diamond League (DL). 

The meet set for Sunday 5 June will see the two also go up against world relay silver medalist Naomi Korir who finished third at the Classic held at Kasarani as well as national champion Jarinter Mawia who came home fourth at the Classic. 

The Olympics semi finalists, Moraa is fresh from bagging bronze at the Montreuil International meeting in France where she clocked 2:01.29 to finish in second place behind home runner Renelle Lamote who missed a sub 2 minutes by milliseconds in a 2:00.68 performance. 

Lamote will also line up in the Rabat race adding to the rich field that has four women who have dipped under 2 minutes in the two-lap race this season. 

South African Sekgodiso is the fastest of the four, having run a world leading 1:58.41 at Kasarani during the Classic to qualify for the World Championships. 

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Lamote's 1:59.53 makes her the second fastest this season while Mawia, with her 1:59.84 achieved this season doubling as a Personal Best (PB) for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) runner, makes it to the top three. Moraa completes the sub 2 runners with a 1:59.87 SB. 

Great Britain's Alexandra Bell is also one to watch as her PB of 1:57.66 achived during the Olympics final where she finished seventh makes her the fastest runner (on PB) on the field. 

In the women's 1500m, Edna Jebitok is the lone Kenyan representative and has her work cut out against a stellar field that has one sub 4 minute runner in Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu who has managed 3:59.97 this season and holds a 3:56.28 PB.

In the 3000m, World Under-20 champion Teresia Muthoni leads a Kenyan contigent that has Mercy Cherono and Gloria Kite in chasing the title. All but one on the field are opening their international season in the Rabat race. 

Kite is fresh from running a season-best 15:02.92 in 5000m second place behind Kenyan-born Kazakhstani Daisy Jepkemei at the Montreuil International meeting. Jepkemei broke the meeting record, previously held by Beatrice Chebet.