The fifth edition of Absa Kip Keino Classic held Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium treated spectators to some exhilarating displays of athletics artistry.
An exuberant World champion Mary Moraa was among the standout athletes in the Absa Bank Kenya sponsored event which is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour.
Moraa all smiles after setting a Kip Keino Classic meeting record which saw her defend her two-lap race title.
The indefeasible athlete hit the bell at 55.67 seconds and got her mitts on the title in a time of 1:57.96 to complete a hat-trick of Kip Keino Classic titles at Nyayo.
She beat her previous championship record time of 1:58.83 from following last year’s victory at Kasarani’s Moi International Sports Centre.
Moraa is using the Absa Kip Keino Classic as build up towards her debut at the Doha Diamond League on May 10 as she also sets her sights on the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League on May 25 before planning for her next race ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Clinching gold in the 800m race at Nyayo National Stadium before the enthusiastic home fans in her signature post-race dance saw Moraa deliver 1:57.96 in a new meet record.
“I had plans to lower my personal best but that didn’t happen. However, this makes me a happy person to win before the home crowd. I’m now going to sit down with my coach and plan on how to achieve the dream in the upcoming events,” she said.
The dancing queen who was looking to lower her personal best had her main adversary Vivian Kiprotich clinch silver in 1:58.93 as Nelly Chirchir settled for bronze after timing 1:58.98.
Having savored the impressive scalp, the Commonwealth Games champion fell short of her target of clocking 1:56, Moraa was elated that the victory had kickstarted plans of a busy season ahead.
Her stellar performance at Nyayo was Moraa’s first 800m race of the season which followed the African Games 400m win at last month’s All African Games in Accra, Ghana
