Mary Moraa of Kenya danced with elation after her remarkable 800m gold medal win rounded off a successful World Athletics Championships for Africa on Sunday.
Her performance was a testament to her growth and dedication, turning her bronze medal from the previous year’s championships into a shining gold, achieving the feat with a personal best of 1:56.03 in the women’s 800m final.
Dancing queen 🤝 800m queen
🇰🇪’s Mary Moraa literally flies to golden 800m glory after two crazy laps around the track 💃
1:56.03 PB, how about that 😳#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/yfL2IF6yUr
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 27, 2023
Facing tough competition, Moraa bested defending champion, Athing Mu from the USA, who finished in third place with a time of 1:56.61. The second spot was secured by Keely Hodgkinson from Team GB, who finished with a time of 1:56.34.
As Moraa crossed the finish line, her excitement was evident as she leaped into the air, pumping her fist in celebration. This victory marked her second major international gold within a year, following her earlier success at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Kenyan Faith Kipyegon was on song again as she claimed her second gold of the Championships on Saturday.
Following her triumph in the 1500 meters earlier in the week, during which she displayed an impressive 56.63-second last lap, Kipyegon demonstrated even greater swiftness on the weekend. Her final 400 meters were covered in a blazing 56.59 seconds, leading her to a triumphant finish with a time of 14:53.88 in the 5000 meters event.
In the men’s 800m final, Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya claimed the silver medal behind Canada’s Marco Arop, who ran a 1:44.24.
Wanyonyi stood alone as the representative of Kenya in the finals, as fellow countrymen Ferguson Rotich and Alex Kipngetich fell short of reaching the decider. Adding to the roster of absences, defending champion Emmanuel Korir was unable to progress past the first round due to his ongoing struggle with injuries throughout the season.
On Saturday, Africans dominated the women’s marathon final, securing all three medals while occupying eight of the top ten spots.
The winner, Amane Beriso of Ethiopia, clocked in at 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 23 seconds; her victory was the culmination of a strategic showdown in the midst of scorching conditions.
Beriso’s decisive surge, about seven kilometers from the finish line, paved the way for her triumph in the championship race—a remarkable feat considering it was only her 11th marathon of her career.
In a swift pursuit, Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia), who secured the marathon title 13 months earlier in Eugene, rapidly closed the gap on her fatiguing compatriot, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, securing the second position with a time of 2:24:34. Meanwhile, Fatima Gardadi, Morocco’s national champion, delivered a scintillating run to claim the third spot with an impressive time of 2:25:17.
There were similar scenes on Sunday during the men’s marathon, as Victor Kiplangat (Uganda) won the gold medal and Leul Gebresilase (Ethiopia) claimed the bronze, with Africans occupying seven of the top 10 spots.
The 23-year-old valiantly maintained his lead, securing his nation’s second-ever world marathon title with a remarkable time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 53 seconds.
THE PRIDE OF UGANDA 🇺🇬
Victor Kiplangat wins the men’s marathon in 2:08:53.
#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/l9yRdC6d1G
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 27, 2023
Another African podium finish came in the form of Kenyan Jacob Krop’s bronze medal in the 5000m event on Sunday, before Kenyan’s Beatrice Chepkoech (silver, SB) and Faith Cherotich (bronze, PB) won Africa’s final medals during the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.
What a finish in the men’s 5000m 👀
Jakob Ingebrigtsen digs deep and successfully defends his 5000m #WorldAthleticsChamps title 👏 pic.twitter.com/kzz6iaKgtL
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 27, 2023
Africa finished the Championships with a medal tally total of 26, with Kenya’s 10 medals leading the way, followed by Ethiopia with nine.
Click here to see the full medal tally: