Kenya’s Sarah Moraa and Kelvin Kimutai Koech are among the promising young athletes aiming for the 800m title at the upcoming World Athletics U20 Championships, scheduled to take place from August 27-31 at the Estadio Atletico de la Videna in Lima, Peru.
The championships will see more than 1,700 athletes from 134 teams competing, and Kenya’s duo is set to make a strong bid for gold.
Sarah Moraa, an 18-year-old rising star, looks to follow in the footsteps of her cousin, Mary Moraa, who finished fifth at the U20 championships in 2018 before winning the senior world 800m title in 2023.
Sarah has been training under the mentorship of Mary, and her recent performances have shown promise. She finished third at the Kenyan Olympic Trials in June, where she lowered her personal best to an impressive 1:59.39, making her the second fastest in the field.
The top spot is held by Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth, who set a national U20 record of 1:58.40 earlier this year and went on to reach the 800m semi-finals at the Paris Olympics.
Moraa will face stiff competition from the likes of Sophia Gorriaran from the USA, who equaled her personal best of 2:00.65 in May and reached the semi-finals of the US Olympic Trials in June.
Japan’s Rin Kubo, who clocked a remarkable 1:59.93 last month at just 16 years of age, is also expected to be a formidable contender, along with Norway’s Malin Hoelsveen, Germany’s Jana Marie Becker, and Italy’s Ngalula Gloria Kabangu.
On the men’s side, Kenya’s Kelvin Kimutai Koech will be vying for a spot on the podium. The competition is expected to be fierce, with Australia’s Peyton Craig leading the world U20 list for 2024 after setting an Oceanian record of 1:44.12 in Vienna in June.
Craig also competed in the Olympics, showcasing his experience on the global stage. Other strong competitors include Czechia’s Jakub Dudycha, who recently broke the Czech senior record with a time of 1:44.82, and Japan’s Ko Ochiai, the Asian U20 champion, who has been steadily improving his personal best, most recently clocking 1:44.80.
Ethiopia’s General Berhanu Ayansa, with a personal best of 1:45.45, is another medal contender, while Qatar’s Hatim Ait Oulghazi and USA’s Daniel Watcke, both having run under 1:47, are also expected to be in the mix.
As the World Athletics U20 Championships unfold, all eyes will be on Sarah Moraa and Kelvin Kimutai Koech as they carry Kenya’s hopes in the 800m.
Their performances could continue Kenya’s tradition of excellence in middle-distance running and inspire a new generation of Kenyan athletes.
Source: World Athletics
