- Kenya’s and Africa’s 800m women holder Lilian Odira seals spot at World Championships.
- The Kip Keino Classic was her first outdoor race of the campaign.
- Botswana’s Nowe Oratile sets a PB of 1:58.47 to finish second.
- Serah Moraa picks a silver from a 1:58.96 time.
African 800m champion Lilian Odira booked her ticket to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after clinching victory in the women’s two-lap race at the Absa Kip Keino Classic on Saturday.
Odira, running her first outdoor 800m race of the season, delivered a perfectly paced tactical performance at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, stopping the clock at a personal best of 1:58.31. She held off Botswana’s Nowe Oratile, who also set a personal best of 1:58.47 to finish second.
Kenya’s Sarah Moraa completed the podium in third place with another personal best of 1:58.96, making it a high-quality race with all top three finishers dipping under two minutes.
Last year’s winner and reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa did not take part in this year’s race.
“I have really worked hard from the cross-country build-up. I was coming to gauge my body,” said Odira. “Clocking a new personal best in my first 800m outdoor competition was huge and qualifying for Tokyo.”
Second-placed Oratile Nowe of Botswana expressed mixed feelings about the outcome.
“I expected to win, but I’m happy to have finished the race healthy,” said Nowe. “I have to work on my start since that’s what hasn’t worked for me today. I’m looking forward to improving in my next competition, which will be next month.”
