Two lap rising star Mary Moraa yet decide on 400m at World Championships
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 01.07.22. | 16:58
22 year-old qualified for 400m and 800m but seemingly prefers the two lap event.
Kenya’s most established female 800m runner heading to the Oregon Athletics World Championships Mary Moraa may not run the 400m despite qualifying in the discipline alongside her preferred two lap race.
Moraa won her second Diamond League race on Thursday night after romping to 1:57.68 in Stockholm and leaving in her wake Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo, Japan last year.
“I qualified for both the 400m and the 800m. I have to discuss with my coach whether I will double or not. It's only my second season on the 800m. I decided to focus on the 800m because we don't have enough facilities to train,” she said after the race
Moraa’s first victory on the global circuit came in Rabat Morocco followed by a not so good outing in Rome, Italy where American Athing Mu ruled the roost.
The 22-year-old Kenya returned to the circuit determined for a second win and showed great purpose from the gun-off.
She immediately took a prime place ahead of the pack and had to slow down to let the pacemaker Lindh Lovisa stay ahead.
They went through the first lap in 57.7. Her inexperience showed immediately after the bell as she shuffled through the lanes, getting in the wrong side of Lovisa whose pacing duties had come to an end and was exiting the race.
Mary Moraa is the real deal. After winning the 400/800 double at the Kenyan champs over the weekend, she wins the 800 in Stockholm in 1:57.58, handing Keely Hodgkinson her first 800m defeat of the year.https://t.co/fRjPV46FQ0 pic.twitter.com/l8SAHFvXxl
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) June 30, 2022
Luckily none of the other competitors seized the opportunity and Moraa sped to notch a very important victory going into the World Championships.
“I am very happy with the win and the way I ran. I came here to win, but it wasn't easy. I am looking forward to running with medallists at the World Championships,” added she
Hodgkinson mustered second spot in 1:58.18 and lauded Moraa for rising to the occasion.
“The race was a bit messy and I obviously don't like losing but it is all good experience. I got a bit boxed in on the backstraight but that´s 800m racing for you. I got out of trouble but couldn't quite get it together today. Mary (Moraa) got the better of me today,” she said
Mary Moraa 🇰🇪 beats the Olympic Silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson 🇬🇧, running 1:57.68 to win the women's 800m at the Stockholm Diamond League as the Briton was 2nd in 1:58.18. Catriona Bisset 🇦🇺 was 3rd in an SB of 1:58.54.
— Track & Field Gazette (@Athleticsglobe) June 30, 2022
Moraa had run a PB of 1:57.45 to win the Kenyan Trials. pic.twitter.com/8zQpiRL0GK
Catriona Bisset of Australia rounded up the final podium spot in 1:58.54 with Ugandan Halimah Nakayi placing 4th in 1:58.85.
“I did come here on the back of racing at the weekend but that is good practice for the Champs with all the rounds. I am looking forward to the World Champs now with a block of training between now and then. I need to be on top form with three championships coming up so no resting just more hard work. It is probably the biggest crowd I have raced in front of so great experience for me,” the Olympic silver medalist remarked
