Moraa secures Olympic qualification ahead of Trials

National 400m champion Mary Moraa has finally attained the Olympic qualifying standard in 800m just a few days before Kenya holds its trials for the Olympic Games.

Moraa clocked a personal best of 1:59.25 to win the two-lap race at the Sollentuna Grand Prix, a World Continental Tour Bronze meeting held Sunday night in Sweden.

Just a week ago, Moraa ran a personal best of 1:59.95 at the paavo Nurmi Games in Finland to fall only 45 microseconds shy of the Olympic qualifying standard set at 1:59.50

The 21-year-old who has enjoyed a fine form had also won at Kenya’s Olympics pre-trials held a fortnight ago where she chalked a personal best of 2:01.12 at the Nyayo Stadium.

Moraa becomes the fourth Kenyan to secure qualification for Tokyo Games in 800m after former world champion Eunice Sum, Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon and Emily Tuei.

It is still unclear whether Kipyegon will compete in both 800m and 1500m which raises the possibility of the three athletes making the team.

Another Kenyan Vincent Keter came agonisingly close to securing Olympic qualification in the men’s 1500m when he won the race in 3:35.21 falling just 21 microseconds off the qualifying time.

Tags:

Olympic Games Mary Moraa Olympic qualification

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories