Reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa may have broken a world record but it will not come with the big bucks that other such achievements bring.
Moraa shattered the 600m world record, clocking a blistering 1:21.63, to win the race at the ISTAF Berlin in Germany on Sunday.
She obliterated the previous world record time of 1:21.77 set by South Africa’s Caster Semenya in the same city seven years ago, living up to the promise she made early in the season that she will lower the mark.
However, unlike other races where world records attract huge bonuses, Moraa’s prize for the same will be at the discretion of the race organisers with her win attracting just $2,000 (Ksh257,603).
The ISTAF is a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting and organisers were offering between $5,000 (Ksh644,007) and $1,200 (Ksh154,561) for each winner in the various categories.
Category A races, being 100m, was fetching $5,000m for each winner while Moraa’s 600m was among Category B races, whose winners were pocketing $2,000 each, as Category C (400m) attracted $1,200 for its winners.
There is a bonus for breaking a world record, which Moraa is entitled to, but this will be determined by the organisers and not by World Athletics.
It was, however, a great outing for Moraa who had just finished third in 1,000m at the Silesia Diamond League a week earlier.
“I am feeling so well and happy,” said Moraa. “To achieve this record on my first attempt is just overwhelming. I am so satisfied about the way I ran today.”
Moraa, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics, has been one of the outstanding athletes this season, winning Diamond League meetings in Doha and Lausanne, and finishing second in Eugene.
She is among big names set to light up the Zurich meeting this week before the season finale in Brussels.
