•Only recently, she set a new PB in April after storming to the 400m title at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in an astonishing time of 50.44.
•In Botswana, the two-lap specialists obliterated a stellar field that boasted Olympic and world finalist Candice McLeod of Jamaica, USA’s Kyra Jefferson, and the Botswana duo of Naledi Lopang and Thompang Basele.
Image: FILE
Barely in her 20s, Kenya's track sensation Mary Moraa is already hogging the global limelight and stealing headlines at whim.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games 800 metres gold medallist has rocked premier global athletics shows in recent years to deservedly cut herself a niche in the Hall of Fame.
Fondly known as "The Kisii Express" by her dotting fans, Moraa has already claimed her space in the cutthroat world of athletics. Undoubtedly, the decorated track prodigy deserves every ounce of international acclamation.
Only recently, she set a new PB in April after storming to the 400m title at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in an astonishing time of 50.44.
The sublime performance she pulled off in the blistering contest saw her smash her previous national record by 0.24 seconds, subsequently attaining the World Athletics Championships qualifying standards of 51.0 seconds.
"My previous 400m best was 50.67, which I attained at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels in September."
In Botswana, the two-lap specialists obliterated a stellar field that boasted Olympic and world finalist Candice McLeod of Jamaica, USA’s Kyra Jefferson, and the Botswana duo of Naledi Lopang and Thompang Basele.
She breezed to victory ahead of South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee and McLeod who crossed the line in 51.13s and 51.17s respectively.
She rallied from behind to take the lead with 30m to go on her way to the winner's podium at the National Stadium, Gaborone.
Moraa smashed the national record when she won the Kenyan trials for World Championships and Commonwealth Games in 50.84 on June 25, last year at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
Moraa, 23, has vowed to step into the big shoes of her role model Hellen Obiri, the middle and long-distance track sensation.
"I've always admired Obiri. I grew up watching her clinch titles and her amazing performances have inspired me a great deal. To an extent, there is a part of her that lives in me. I just want to be exactly like her," Moraa said.
Image: FILE
"To date, Obiri still inspires me a great deal and I'm eager to emulate her success on the international stage," she added.
Indeed, Moraa has every reason to admire Obiri. She is the only woman to have won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track, and cross-country races.
Notably, Obiri is a two-time Olympic 5000 metres silver medallist from the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she also placed fourth over the 10,000 meters.
She is a two-time world champion, having claimed the 5000 m title both in 2017 and 2019 when she set a new championship record.
Obiri also tucked away a bronze in the 1500 metres during the 2013 World Championships and a silver in the 10,000 m in 2022.
She won the 3000 meters race at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, claimed silver in 2014, and placed fourth in 2018. She romped to the 2019 World Cross Country title and triumphed in the 2023 Boston Marathon.
Moraa said she and Obiri share a lot in common. Besides being compatriots, Moraa is elated they hail from the same county.
Coached by seasoned National Police athletics team gaffer Alex Sang, Moraa has her eyes firmly trained on a World Championship conquest in Budapest, Hungary later in the year.
Image: Courtesy Mary Moraa
She said she intends to run the 800m race at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August, adding that she is determined to breast the tape in under two minutes.
Born on June 15, 2000, Moraa attended Nyangononi Primary School in Bassi Borabu, Kisii County where she sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2014.
Her potential in athletics came to the fore at Nyangononi when she ran away with several titles in the sprints and middle-distance races.
"I stamped authority in 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m and even shattered the 400m East Africa school games record in 2014," Moraa proudly recounted.
Upon completing her studies, Moraa proceeded to Ibacho Secondary School in Kisii County but lasted there for only two years before transferring to Mogonga PAG Mixed secondary school where she sat for her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2018.
"While at Ibachi, I experienced difficulties paying my school fees and it was the principal who would chip in most of the time. Unfortunately, he got transferred from the school and I was left stranded.
"I later joined Mogonga Mixed Secondary School, where I got a lot of support from the principal who also happened to be my coach."
Image: ANGWENYI GICHANA
An orphan from a disadvantaged background, Moraa got financial help from her school principal Aron Onchonga who paid all her school fees at Mogonga. Indeed, aside from affording her pertinent financial assistance, Onchong'a played a key role in honing her skills and carving her path to stardom. It was during her years in Mogonga that Moraa started jutting out her talons on the track.
"I am grateful to the school administration and the Principal for the moral and financial support they gave me while there."
During my years in Mogonga, I wanted to remain a role model to the young girls who shied away from sporting activities. I was determined to train and participate in various activities even after completing school," said Moraa.
While still a Form Three student at Mogonga, Moraa clocked a personal best of 53.31 to bag the silver at the World U-18 Championships in 2017 at Moi Stadium, Kasarani. Just like in the semi-final, Moraa once again lost to Barbora Malikova from Czech, who won gold in a personal best of 52.74 as Glovana Rosalia Dos Santos from Brazil scooped bronze in 53.57.
The World U-18 400m silver medallist, made her debut in 800m during the 2019 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Kisii County Term One games at Kisii University.
"I was keen on following the footsteps of my role model and world 1,500m champion Obiri, who transitioned from 1,500 to 10,000m. I also defended the 200 and 400m titles but failed to run in the 100m."
Image: HANDOUT
The school produced three other students who represented Kenya at the World U-18. They are Elijah Matayo (100m, 200m), David Kisotu (400m hurdles), and Joseph Nyakundi (shot put).
Moraa specialised in the 400m distance until 2021. She made her international debut in style in 2017 when she blazed to the silver medal in the event, recording a personal best at the IAAF World U18 Championships in Nairobi.
The following year, aged 18, she placed fifth at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. In 2019, she won the African U-20 title, and the Kenyan senior title, and placed fourth at the African Games held in Rabat, Morocco.
She flew the country's flag at the World Championships in Doha competing in the 400m and mixed 4×400m relay events.
Moraa transitioned to the 800m in 2021 and represented Kenya at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics competing in the event, where she was eliminated in the semi-finals with a time of 2:00.47.
In July 2022, she bagged the bronze medal in the 800m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, clocking a personal best of 1:56.71 behind Athing Mu (1:56.30) and Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.38).
In September, Moraa became the Diamond League champion over the 800m after she won the final in Zürich. Moraa said the most memorable moment in her glittering career came when she clinched the coveted Commonwealth Games gold in a blistering women's 800m final at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Moraa ran the race of her life at the Club Games to win Kenya's fourth Gold medal after clocking 1:57.07 to stun the pre-race favourites including Scotland's Laura Muir, Jamaica's Natayo Goule, and England's Keely Hodgkinson. Hodgkinson took silver in 1:57.40 ahead of Muir who clocked 1:57.87.
Immediately after crossing the finish line, Moraa broke into a lively dance with the fans cheering her on. "It was a very big victory for my fans back in the country who had relentlessly supported and trusted in me."
"Work hard, be obedient to succeed. You cannot succeed without discipline and without working extremely hard in training," Moraa told the young and aspiring athletes.
BIO
Name: Mary Moraa
Date of birth: June 15, 2000
EDUCATION
2006-2014: Nyangononi primary school in Bassi Borabu, Kisii county 2015-2016: Ibacho secondary school in Kisii County 2017-2018: Mogonga PAG Mixed secondary school.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Personal bests
400 meters – 50.44 (Gaborone 2023) NR
800 meters – 1:56.71 (Eugene, OR 2022)
800 meters indoor – 2:00.61 (Liévin 2023)
Image: FILE