African Games: Mary Moraa ready for the challenge after cruising to 400m semifinal

Mary Moraa

ATHLETICS African Games: Mary Moraa ready for the challenge after cruising to 400m semifinal

Abigael Wafula 09:30 - 19.03.2024

Mary Moraa has fired warning shots at her opponents ahead of the 400m semifinal scheduled for later today after displaying class to win the heats.

Commonwealth Games 800m champion Mary Moraa was in a class of her own, competing in Heat Five and taking the crown to successfully proceed to the 400m semifinal at the African Games.

Moraa cut the tape in 52.18 ahead of her closest challenger Asimenye Simwaka who finished in 53.32 as Georgiana Sesay completed the podium after clocking 53.35 to cross the finish line.

The reigning World 800m champion is now getting ready for the semifinal scheduled for Tuesday evening at 8:30 pm East African Time.

After winning the heats, she shared her joy on her Facebook page saying: “Beautifully done, easy glide to victory in the fifth heat of the 400m in 52.18 seconds. Through to the semi-finals. God is good.”

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Moraa was not done with the assignment on the opening day since she was also part of the 4x400m mixed relay team which she anchored to a second-place finish to directly qualify for the final.

Botswana led in their heat, clocking a national record time of 3:14.36 with Team Kenya coming in second after clocking 3:18.42 and South Africa sealed the podium in 3:19.63.

After the race, she said: “Just anchored my 4x400m mixed relay team to second place in 3:18.42, we advance to the final scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday at 11.55 pm. Thanks for your endearing support and for staying awake to cheer us.”

The men’s 3000m steeplechase final saw Amos Serem and Simon Koech take second and third-place finishes as Ethiopia’s Debisa Firewu ran away with the win.

The 800m heats saw Kipng’etich Ngeno impress and he will be hoping to maintain the hot streak to the semi-final and later on to the final. In the 400m Hurdles men’s race, Kennedy Muthoki also impressed, and going into the final, he will be up to the task.

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