In a spectacular display of talent and determination, Sarah Moraa clinched the gold medal for Kenya at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, early Saturday morning. The young athlete, who is a cousin to the world-renowned champion Mary Moraa, has shown she is ready to carry on the family legacy, clocking an impressive 2:00.36 in the 800m final.
Australian Claudia Hollingsworth and American Sophia Gorriaran trailed behind, securing the silver and bronze medals with times of 2:00.87 and 2:01.04, respectively.
From the outset, Sarah dominated the race, leading from the starting gun to the finish line, demonstrating her growing prowess on the global stage. Her journey to the final was equally commanding, having breezed through the semi-finals with a time of 2:03.46 on Friday morning, following a comfortable 2:05.11 victory in the first round.
At just 20 years old, Sarah Moraa has made it clear that she’s a force to be reckoned with. She has often spoken about how much she draws inspiration from her cousin Mary Moraa, and Saturday’s performance undoubtedly made the senior Moraa proud.
This latest triumph adds to Sarah’s impressive 2024 track record, having already won gold at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, earlier this year. While her journey to the Paris Olympics was cut short after she narrowly missed the qualifying standards despite a strong third-place finish at the trials, her performance in Lima serves as a strong reminder of her potential.
With Sarah’s victory, Kenya’s medal count at the World U20 Championships now stands at two golds, with a total of five medals overall, as the country prepares to close out the event on a high note.
