World 800m champion Mary Moraa will feature in her first Diamond League race of the season when she headlines the women's two-lap event in Stockholm this Sunday.
The Paris Olympics bronze medallist has been busy with the inaugural Grand Slam Track Series.
Moraa’s last outing on the Diamond League circuit was at the 2024 finals in Brussels, where she stormed to victory in 1:56.56, her second career title after her 2022 triumph in Zurich (1:57.63).
In Brussels, Moraa powered past Britain's Georgia Bell (1:57.50) and Jamaica's Natoya Goule-Toppin (1:58.94).
However, her 2025 season has been a rollercoaster.
She opened with an underwhelming performance at the Kingston Grand Slam in April, finishing last in 2:00.97.
She later withdrew from the 1,500m at the same meet, citing health reasons.
Moraa quickly bounced back at the fifth Athletics Kenya (AK) weekend meet later that month, winning her 400m heat in 51.51. She, however, skipped the semifinals.
She teamed up with Esther Mbagari, Mercy Oketch and Mercy Chebet to win the women's 4x400m relay in 3:25.80.
At the Miami Slam, Moraa had mixed fortunes, finishing last in the 1,500m (4:24.44) before rebounding with a confident 800m win in 1:59.51.
In the 800m, she led American Nikki Hiltz (1:59.75) and Ethiopian Freweyni Hailu (1:59.84).
Her most recent outing was at the Philadelphia Slam, where she placed seventh in the 1,500m (4:25.79) and fifth in the 800m (2:00.92).
With a focus on the Tokyo World Championships, Moraa will look to rediscover her form in Stockholm, where she faces stiff competition from Britain’s Jemma Reekie and Bell.
In the men’s 5,000m, world U20 champion Andrew Alamisi will be seeking the 13:01-minute qualifying mark for Tokyo.
"I am more than ready for the race. My main target is to win the race and meet the qualifying standard for Tokyo," said Alamisi.
He has been in Europe for a month and believes he has acclimatised to the weather.
"I came to race in Zagreb, then I had another race in Italy. My body has acclimatised to the weather now and I believe that will play in my favour," he said.
Alamisi was in brilliant form at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb on May 24, where he clocked 13:03.30 to finish second behind compatriot Denis Koech (13:03.17).
He followed that up with a commanding win in Italy on June 2, posting 13:16.90.
Despite lining up against a strong field in Stockholm, Alamisi is bullish about his chances.
"The field is strong, there are some great runners from Ethiopia and Europe. However, I am confident I can dominate the race and emerge victorious," he observed.
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will headline a loaded men’s 800m field alongside compatriot Wyclife Kinyamal.
But before then, Wanyonyi will compete at the Oslo Diamond League meeting on Thursday evening.
In Stockholm, the Kenyan duo will come up against Olympic bronze medallist Djamel Sedjati of Algeria, Gabriel Tual of France and American Bryce Hope.
Hellen Ekalale will take centre stage in the women’s 3,000m alongside compatriot Caroline Nyaga, seeking to fend off a strong field that includes Nozomi Tanaka of Japan, Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay and Uganda's Sarah Chelangat.
