Mary Moraa Topples Athing Mu To Win Maiden 800m World Title

27th August 2023 - by Stephen Ochieng

The 23-year-old became the third Kenyan woman to win an 800m world title.

Mary Moraa. PHOTO | AFP

SUMMARY

It took Moraa running a new personal best (1:56:03) to win the World title.
Mu, the Olympic and defending world champion, finished third in 1:56.61.
Moraa added the title to her Commonwealth Games gold she won last year.

Kenya's Mary Moraa skipped over the line in joy as she won the women's 800 metres world title on Sunday in Budapest, ending Athing Mu's dominance of the event.

The 23-year-old timed a personal best of 1min 56.03sec with Britain's Keely Hodgkinson having to settle for silver like last year, as she finished in 1:56.34.

Mu, the Olympic and defending world champion who has rarely raced this year, finished third in 1:56.61.

The tall Mu had led from the start with Moraa and Hodgkinson keeping tabs on her.

Moraa, though, was the one who was able to keep with the 21-year-old American phenomenon, while Hodgkinson decided to drop off the pace a bit as they heard the bell.

Mu moved up a gear down the back straight, but Moraa would not let go and as they rounded the bend she was on her shoulder.

Mu still held the lead but as Hodgkinson made her charge down the inside it was Moraa on the outside who got ahead of the American with 30 metres to go.

Hodgkinson also passed Mu but it was too late for her to get gold.

Moraa had the edge and added the title to her Commonwealth Games gold she won last year, Hodgkinson filling second there too.

Moraa lay on the track for a few seconds before getting to her feet and dancing in celebration - and her Kenyan teammates on the training track did the same.