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AK Trials: Korir seals World Championship ticket as Moraa beats Kipyegon
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 24.06.22. | 16:35
The Olympic champion became one of three sprinters to punch a ticket to the World Athletics Championships.
Former World Under-18 silver medalist Mary Moraa beat 1500m specialist Faith Kipyegon in the women's 800m during the Athletics Kenya (AK) World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games trials held at the Kasarani Stadium on Friday 24 June.
Moraa cut the tape at a time of 1:57:45 while Kipyegon clocked 1:58:18. National champion Jarinter Mawia finished third in a time of 2:00:36.
Moraa is the only 800m Kenyan runner in the women's race who has sealed a ticket to the World Championships. Kipyegon is expected to do battle in the 1500m.
Moraa was delighted to have improved her timing following a disastrous outing at the National Championships and was also elated to have beat a seasoned athlete in Kipyegon.
"After my poor run at the national championship, I had to go back to the drawing board. My coach organized for the race in Rabat and Rome Diamond League after which I came back to the country to sharpen myself.
Today's race was great and it helped quite a lot to be competing with a superstar like Kipyegon. I can't say that I will win a medal in Oregon but the plan we have developed with the coach will reap good returns," said Moraa.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir joined Africa 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala and hurdler Moitalel Mpoke as the only Kenyan sprinters to have qualified for the Championship.
Korir won the 400m race in a time of 44.87 while Boniface Mweresa came in second clocking 45.79 as Kennedy Kimeu finished third in 46.38.











