Sarah Moraa, the rising star of Kenyan athletics, is setting her sights on securing her first global title at the World Under-20 Championships, scheduled for August 28-31 in Lima, Peru. The Africa 800m champion is determined to make her mark on the international stage after narrowly missing out on a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Moraa’s journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions, characterized by moments of disappointment and resilience. Despite the setback of not qualifying for the Olympics, she has channeled her energy into rigorous training, learning from her experiences, and focusing on her future goals. For Moraa, the journey is just as important as the destination.
Reflecting on her recent experiences, Moraa shared how missing the Paris 2024 Olympics has fueled her determination. “This year’s experience taught me valuable lessons,” she said. “I’m aiming to achieve two goals: securing a podium finish in Lima and qualifying for the World Athletics Championships next year in Tokyo, Japan.”
Moraa’s journey to this point has been anything but easy. The second youngest of five siblings, she knows that success doesn’t happen overnight. She has drawn inspiration from her role model, mentor, and training partner, Mary Moraa, who faced similar challenges early in her career. Mary, now an Olympic bronze medalist and world champion, did not advance past the semifinals in her first Olympics in Tokyo. Yet, she remained resilient, patient, and learned from her experiences to achieve greater success.
“Mary’s journey shows that resilience and patience are key,” Sarah said. “She didn’t achieve her success overnight, and I’m not pressuring myself for immediate results. I’m learning from each experience and staying focused on my long-term goals.”
The path to securing her place on Team Kenya for the World U-20 Championships was a challenging one. To qualify, Sarah needed to clock 1:59.30 in the 800m but fell just 0.09 seconds short during the Olympic trials. Her attempt to qualify at the African Senior Championships was thwarted by timing equipment issues, leading to her results being invalidated by World Athletics.
Despite these setbacks, Moraa remained undeterred. She gave it another shot during the Under-20 trials on June 28th, clocking her best time of 2:00.01, despite the challenges of jet lag. “I was very sad that day,” she admitted. “I really wanted to make it to the team, but it wasn’t my time yet. Now, I’m well-prepared, energetic, and motivated, and I’m hopeful of a podium finish in Peru.”
Securing a world title in Lima would be a defining moment not just for Sarah but also for her family and her former high school principal, Aron Onchoga. Onchoga is credited with discovering 800m Olympic bronze medalist and defending world champion Mary Moraa. Sarah, who hails from Nyaisa, Nyamira County, shares a deep respect for Mary and her achievements. “Mary is highly respected and praised back home for her discipline and achievements. She is the reason I wanted to join athletics,” Sarah explained.
Team Kenya’s head coach, Robert Ngisirei, is optimistic about the team’s prospects in Lima. He acknowledged that some athletes had academic examinations during the two months of training, which disrupted their preparation. However, he remains confident in their abilities. “We have done our part; the athletes are confident and will be comfortable even if the race pace is fast,” Ngisirei stated. “We used some of the Olympic races as teaching moments, and I have confidence in them.”
Ngisirei also praised the efforts of the federation and the Kenyan government in funding youth programs that help identify and nurture young talents like Sarah Moraa. These initiatives, he believes, are crucial for the continued success of Kenyan athletics on the global stage.
As the World Under-20 Championships approach, all eyes will be on Sarah Moraa as she strives to secure her place among the world’s best young athletes. For Sarah, the journey has been tough, but with resilience and determination, she is ready to take on the world.
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