Commonwealth champ Moraa promises fireworks at Kisii weekend meeting

Commonwealth 800m champion Mary Moraa has promised fireworks at the 5th Athletics Kenya (AK) weekend meeting at Gusii Stadium on Friday and Saturday.

Moraa, also the world 800m bronze medalist, said she expects a highly competitive event.

“The last four weekend meetings have been very competitive. We expect the same in Kisii because several top athletes have registered to take part,” she said after training at the stadium on Thursday morning.

Moraa will participate in both 400m and 800m specialty during the two-day event. She wants to set a new stadium record, this being the first national event to be held since the installation of a synthetic track.

She is using the championships to prepare for the upcoming outdoor season. Moraa starts her outdoor season at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour on May 13.

“From Kip Keino, I will turn my focus on Diamond League and World Athletics Championships trials. I didn’t perform well during the outdoor season because I had not done enough training. I am hoping for an improved performance in Budapest in August,” she added.

Moraa, who did light training with veteran sprinter Millicent Ndoro on Thursday morning,  expressed excitement about running at home for the first time since joining the senior ranks.

“I used to run here during our high school days. There is great progress since we have a synthetic track though not up to standard. I want to appeal to our governor Simba Arati to ensure this stadium is improved to international standards,” she added.

Moraa also spared time to train and inspire primary school pupils who were participating in the Kisii county primary school championships. “I just wanted to motivate and encourage them. This is where we started and we are now elite athletes. They can also make it,” said Moraa.

Kisii County Primary Schools Sports Association secretary, Evans Omosa hailed Moraa for sparing time to inspire the upcoming athletes.

“I’m happy with what Moraa has done today. It is very rare to get elite athletes to take the time to talk to these kids. I’m very sure she has inspired someone who will one day take over from her,” said Omosa.

National athletics coach Julius Kirwa and Athletics Kenya Nyanza South chairman Peter Angwenyi have camped in Kisii to ensure everything is in place ahead of the event.