Mary Moraa set for stern test in Lausanne Diamond League Meeting

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ATHLETICS Mary Moraa set for stern test in Lausanne Diamond League Meeting

Abigael Wafula 08:31 - 29.06.2023

Jamaica’s Natoya Goule will also be in the mix in search of her first 800m win since the season started.

Mary Moraa alias Kisii Express is not resting on her laurels as she heads to the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday, June 30.

Moraa, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, is just fresh from winning the 800m during the National Championships and she will be keen to maintain the hot streak despite facing the deep field.

This will be her second Diamond League Meeting since the season started. She opened her campaign on a high at the Meeting in Rabat, Morocco. However, this time round the race has attracted some of the greatest 800m female runners including arch-rival Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain.

Hodgkinson beat Moraa comfortably during the indoor season earlier this year, but the Kenyan has looked more impressive so far with a 50.44 for 400m in April and 800m victories that include 1:58.83 in Nairobi and 1:58.72 in Rabat.

Hodgkinson ran 1:55.77 during the Diamond League Meeting in Paris and has since improved her 400m best to 52.24 to win the England under-23 title in Chelmsford.

On her part, Moraa beat the Briton and the Olympic 1500m silver medallist Laura Muir at the 2022 Commonwealth Games 800m final and later won the Diamond League final in Zurich too.

Also, in the race are Habitam Alemu, Catriona Bisset, Natoya Goule, Noelie Yarigo and Jemma Reekie. Alemu, the Ethiopian, is also a strong athlete who will be looking to give her opponents a run for their money. She won the 800m at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix and Meeting International de Forbach.

Jamaica’s Natoya Goule will also be in the mix in search of her first 800m win since the season started. She has so far participated in the Diamond League Meetings in Rabat and Paris and finished fourth and third respectively.

Lore Hoffmann and Audrey Werro will also be looking to shine on home soil when they take on their international opponents.