It is African affair in Kip Keino Classic women 800m

Trailblazing two-lap star Mary Moraa of Kenya may be counting on home support to prevail in the 4th edition of Kip Keino Classic but an equally talented African cast of 800m stars are gunning for top prize with high likelihoods of upsetting odds.

Tried and tested Ethiopian Habitam Alemu will have back up in the form of compatriots Girma Tigist and Desta Netsanet as they stage a three-pronged 800m heist on the Kenyan capital. It will rank among the biggest upsets by neighboring Ethiopia in Kip Keino Classic’s brief existence.

From the Southern Africa where the great Maria Mutola hailed comes the indefatigable Prudence Sekgodiso of South Africa and the tough battling Nowe Oratile of Botswana. The duo are as good as any 800m runner in the continent and could easily tear the script and claim the crown.

Moraa will obviously headline a Kenyan quartet that features the now experienced Naomi Korir, 400m turned two lapper Millicent Ndoro and Naumglorius Chepchumba. Moraa has warmed up for the event with several eye-catching performance leading up to 13th May when she has a huge domestic task to accomplish.

“I feel ready for challenge in both 800m and 400m. I have taken part in both races since the season begun and I feel ready. My biggest task at hand is giving a good show at home because I believe this will propel me to perform better when I go out there,” Moraa said in the build up to Saturday’s event

Moraa dreams of another heroic show at a venue where she got introduced to the world during the 2017 World U18 Championships. 

 “Off course the biggest prize this year is the World Championships and every race and training I take part in is in preparation for the bigger prize. Every competition is valuable but the two I need to excel in is Kip Keino Classic and World Championships. It will give me so much joy and pride,” said the athlete dubbed Kisii Express

800m Women Start List

Chepchumba Naumglorius

Girma Tigist

Millicent Ndoro

Desta Netsanet

Mary Moraa

Korir Naomi

Sekgodiso Prudence

Alemu Habitam

Nowe Oratile