Moraa eyes All Africa Games qualification and title

•On Friday, Moraa said: “I’m excited and looking forward to the trials and the All Africa Games. This is one of the titles missing from my collection so I want to go for gold in Ghana.”

•Moraa said she decided to participate in the 400m race to build on her speed ahead of a busy season ahead.

World 800m champion Mary Moraa is one of the top athletes who have been invited to the All Africa Games Trials scheduled for next week at Nyayo National Stadium.

The trials will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. The All African Games will be held in Accra, Ghana on March 19 to 23.

On Friday, Moraa said: “I’m excited and looking forward to the trials and the All Africa Games. This is one of the titles missing from my collection so I want to go for gold in Ghana.”

Moraa said: “In the last edition, I missed the podium finish narrowly after I came fourth. This time, I believe I’m better and experienced to go for gold.”

Moraa said she decided to participate in the 400m race to build on her speed ahead of a busy season ahead.

“I will only take part in the 400m race and 4x400m relays. I’m looking forward to a fruitful season ahead. I don’t want to talk much about the season ahead. For now, I want to focus on the African Games,” she said.

In next week’s trials, Moraa will face off with training-mate Millicent Ndoro, Gladys Chepkemoi, Damaris Nduvele and Maureen Nyatichi among others for the ticket for the All Africa Games. According to Athletics Kenya, the first athlete to cross the finishing line will be selected for the games.

Vanice Nyagisera is keen to retain her 400m hurdles which she won in Morocco. Nyagisera, who has returned from maternity leave, said: “I want to retain my title then focus on the 1,500m race.”

Athletics Kenya is scheduled to field 30 athletes—16 men and 14 women— in the Ghana Games. The Kenya National Sports Council reduced the number of participants, owing to financial constraints

Participation in the event is by invitation and AK asked the invited athletes to pick their running numbers on Monday at Nyayo National Stadium. The athletes must meet the CAA qualification standards.

The women’s 100m will be highly contested with the 2023 national champion Esther Mbagari hoping to secure the top spot.

Mbagari sailed to victory during the 3rd AK track and field meeting held at the Nyayo stadium on January 26-27, clocking 11.60.

She will come up against Rukia Nusra who holds Kenya’s 100m hurdles record after she clocked 13.71 in the last AK track and field meeting.

Hesborn Ochieng will lead a star-studded pack of athletes in the men’s 100m after clocking 10.34 to win the last AK meeting. Three-time national champion Mark Otieno will be seeking to upset Ochieng.

Ndoro will also be eyeing a spot in the event. She will, however, have to fend off Mbagari as well as the 2022 World U20 400m silver medallist, Damaris Mutunga.

2012 World Junior champion in the 400m Boniface Ontuga will square it off against 2023 national champion Zablon Ekhal.

2021 800m World U20 champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will battle it out against 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Wyclife Kinyamal.

The 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon has equally been invited for the trials.

Kipyegon was also the former 5,000m record holder (14:05.20) before her record was smashed by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay who clocked 14:00.21

She will come up against 2018 Youth Olympics champion Edinah Jebitok.

2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot will headline the men’s 1,500m alongside the 2022 world Indoor bronze medallist Abel Kipsang.

World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech will square it against 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jackline Chepkoech.

World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu will highlight the 25-lap race. and will be up against world half-marathon champion Sabastian Sawe.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).