Kenya will be proudly represented by Mary Moraa, Lilian Odira, and Sarah Moraa in the women’s 800m semi-finals at the ongoing World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo. The semi-finals are scheduled for September 19, and the trio’s qualification has sparked excitement across the country.
Defending champion Mary Moraa advanced with a solid second-place finish in her heat, clocking 1:58.44. At the same time, Lilian Odira impressed with a commanding win in her heat, posting 1:57.86, the fastest qualifying time of the day.
The biggest surprise came from Sarah Moraa, who was initially ruled out after finishing outside the top three in her heat. However, a post-race review revealed that she had been pushed during the final lap, causing her to lose momentum. After examining the race footage, officials reinstated her into the semi-finals, citing interference that unfairly impacted her performance.
Sarah’s reinstatement has been hailed as a victory for fairness and sportsmanship, giving Kenya a full trio in the semis, a rare feat in global middle-distance competition. With all three athletes now set to compete, Kenya’s chances of a podium finish have been reignited.
