The Kenyan trio out to reclaim Kenya's glory after Pamela Jelimo's 2008 Beijing Olympics heroics

The Kenyan trio out to reclaim Kenya's glory after Pamela Jelimo's 2008 Beijing Olympics heroics

Abigael Wafula 18:51 - 01.08.2024

The trio of Mary Moraa, Lilian Odira, and Vivian Chebet will be out to reclaim Kenya's gold medal won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics courtesy of Pamela Jelimo.

As the 800m women step foot on the purple track on August 2 for the Paris Olympics heats, Kenyans eyes will be on the trio of Mary Moraa, Lilian Odira and Vivian Chebet to deliver.

The race will be at 8:45 p.m. East African Time and the Kenyans look to sail smoothly to the semifinal before the final of the race scheduled for August 5.

Their bid will be to reclaim the title won by Pamela Jelimo at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. At the event, Janeth Jepkosgei finished second in the race with Moroccan Hasna Benhassi completing the podium.

At the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Jelimo and Margaret Wambui finished third respectively.

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The decorated gold medal has eluded Kenyans with the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games having no Kenyan on the podium. Since then, Kenyans have struggled but the Paris Olympics might witness a narrative change, thanks to the strong delegation sent.

Moraa and Odira have been nothing short of impressive this season and heading to the Olympics, they will extend the winning streak. Chebet, a late addition to the women’s team, has also been working around the clock to ensure she proves her doubters wrong.

Moraa, only beaten twice this season, at the Prefontaine Classic and Kenyan Olympic trials has the experience of racing on the global stage having been to two World Championships and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

After the Kenyan Olympic trials, the world champion has not raced, something that worries a huge chunk of her opponents.

Odira, coming back from her maternity leave has promised to be wiser and stronger. She finished fourth at the African Games earlier in the season before claiming a silver medal at the African Senior Athletics Championships.

Chebet qualified through the world ranking and as she heads to the Paris Olympics, her main aim will be to show the world that she rightfully deserved the Olympic slot. She finished fifth at the Kenyan Olympic trials.

The Kenyan charge faces a stern test from the Briton trio of Keely Hodgkinson, Jemma Reekie and Phoebe Gill. Despite defending champion Athing Mu’s absence, the Britons will look to dominate.

Hodgkinson is in the form of her life at the moment, going unbeaten in the women’s 800m with her latest performance a stunning London Diamond League victory.

South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso is also in the form of her life and she hopes to extend the great form to Paris. She will be looking to reclaim the title won by Caster Semenya at the 2016 Rio Olympics.