Youngsters overcome stage fright as world event starts at Kasarani

Kenyan 400m Mary Moraa wins heat 2 during IAAF World U18 Championships at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday 12/07/17.[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Mary Moraa, who has been christened ‘Kisii Express’, overcame stage fright to win the girls 400m heat two with a personal best of 54:07 seconds while another Kenyan Sharon Jebet ran 55:91 seconds to finish second to qualify for today’s semi-finals.

Moraa, a Form Two student at Mogonga Secondary School, was slow off the blocks but slowly picked up to beat Brazilian Giovana Rosalia Dos Santos to second place in 54.29 secs. Serbia’s Katarina Sekulic’s time of 54:86 placed her in third position. Moraa’s time of 54.07 was the quickest in girls’ 400m round one.

“I panicked from the starting blocks, but somehow, I gained confidence after the 50m curve. I was really afraid of other competitors from countries like Jamaica and South Africa although we were not in the same heat,” said Moraa.

“Now I have confidence and will be challenging them all the way to the finals. I will be super happy if I manage a medal in the final.”

On her part, Jebet, a Form Four student at Moi Girls Kapcherop in Elgeyo Marakwet County was second in heat four behind Barbora Malikova of Czech Republic, who won in 55.56 seconds.

“The preparation has been great, so I knew I would make it past round one. The real task starts in the semis,” Jebet said.

Doneisha Anderson (54:36) of Bahamas won the heat one race ahead of Niddy Mingilishi (54.51) of Zambia, Milgros Duran of Dominica Republic posted 55.05 to win heat three ahead of Shaguena Foote (55:18) of Jamaica. Maria Scrob of Romania finished third at 55:18.

In boy’s 400m, Kenyans Kelvin Sawe Tauta and David Saneyek reached today’s semi-finals after finishing first and second.

Tauta clocked 47.36 seconds to win heat three  while team-mate Saneyek clocked 47.29 to finish second behind Jamaican Antonio Watson (47:22).

Meanwhile, national schools games boys’ shot put bronze medalist Joseph Nyakundi Nyaanga and girls’ hammer champion Christabel Abuti will be Kenya’s star attraction in field events today.

Nyaanga will be in action at 9.45am in shot put.

“If there is one thing that my heart desires, it is to make it to the final.This is where my focus is,” Nyaanga said.

The Form Three student at Mogunga Secondary School in Kisii feels he has done enough training that should propel him to stardom at the championships.

24 participants

“My training revolves around gym work to strengthen my biceps,” he said.

At the same time, Abuti will be Kenya’s hope in the girls’ hammer that gets underway at 11.35am.

The Form Four student at Moi Girls Kamusinga in Kimilili is confident she will make the cut in group A that has other 24 participants.

She says her strength lies in her spin, which she has perfected under her school coach James Nanjoka.