Moraa lowers 400m record as Omanyala promises fireworks

Mary Moraa crossing 800M finish line during trials for World athletics championships at the Nyayo National stadium on Friday, July 7, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Commonwealth Games 800m women’s champion Mary Moraa clocked 50.38 to lower her national record in women’s 400m at the Budapest World Championship trials held at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.

Moraa was elated with the feat even though she stated the overcast Nairobi weather took a toll on her.

“It’s great to have broken my national record, I’m happy with the performance. My target this season is to run a sub 50 in the race,” Moraa told Standard Sports.

Moraa will be out again today to punch another ticket to Budapest in women’s 800m. She is hopeful to successfully double in the Budapest worlds.

At the same time, Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is also promising fireworks in men’s 100m finals at the same today after winning  Heat 2 of the category yesterday.

The Commonwealth Games champion felt no pressure in the heat, literally jogging to the finish line in 10.08.

Heat 1 of the race, won by Bonface Mweresa (10.40) of the Kenya Defence Forces was a nervy affair.

100M semifinal 2 men race Dan Asamba (left), Ferdinand Omanyala and Steve Odhiambo (right) during trials for World athletics championships at the Nyayo National stadium on Friday, July 7, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The contest started with a faulty start on the gun, followed by another false start which disqualified Hosborn Ochieng of Kenya Prisons.

“I feel no pressure at all in these trials, already focus is on Budapest and I’m promising Kenyans a medal, preferably gold,” Omanyala said.

“Tomorrow (today) I’ll just come here to have a good final, I’ll execute the race and appreciate the fans.

“It will be my last competition on Kenyan soil before the World Championships, in between I’ll head for the Monaco Diamond League which I’ll use to gauge myself ahead of Budapest,” Omanyala said.

Mweresa, who triumphed in both 100m and 400m in his heats, admitted he can’t promise much in the finals as his body is still not firing so well.

“I’m hoping to run faster, but since I’m doing two races, there’s need to preserve energy,” he said.

Men’s 800m finals will be a tough affair after Wycliffe Kinyamal and Alex Ngeno dominated in their hotly contested Heat 1 and 2 in that order.

“My target in the final is to finish in top three. I can say I’m feeling good, my body is in shape, my prayer is to make it to the final list of Team Kenya on Saturday,” Kinyamal said.

Ferguson Rotich who is also in the mix said he was going to strategise for the race last night with his coach, but said he was not ready to miss the plane to Hungary.

“My mission is to execute the final better than what I did today, I know it’s very possible with a good plan and that’s what I’m going to do with my coach tonight,” Rotich said.