World 800m champion Mary Moraa, has withdrawn from the Diamond League circuit in Brussels, Belgium, where she was expected to compete in the 400m race.
Moraa took to her Facebook page to inform her fans of her withdrawal from the tournament, saying she was unable to participate in the race due to unavoidable circumstances.
“Good Morning lovely people, I won’t dance for you this evening at the Brussels Diamond League. I was to compete in the 400m but failed to travel due to unavoidable circumstances.”
“However, expect me at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League final in Oregon, USA, where I am set to defend my 800m title, and perhaps, unleash the last jig of this incredible season,” her post read.
The ‘Dancing Queen’ wished all Kenyan athletes who will be competing in Brussels the best of luck.
Fans were expecting a tough matchup between Moraa and Jamaica’s Candice McLeod, who finished second at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting on September 2.
Belgium's Cynthia Bolingo and Helena Ponette are some of the other athletes expected to take part in the race tonight
Moraa first participated in the Diamond League in Monaco in July 2023, where she finished sixth.
World 5,000m bronze medalist Beatrice Chebet is among the top Kenyan athletes expected to grace the Brussels meeting.
She will be hoping to replicate her perfect performance in Xiame, where she won the 3,000m race in 8:24.05. World 10,000m silver medalist, Daniel Simiu, will be eyeing the top seat in the 25-lap race.
He will be up against former world silver medalist Stanley Waithaka, who did not take part in the selection for the Budapest 23 show due to an injury.
Other Kenyan athletes expected in the 10,000m race are Nicholas Kipkorir and Benard Kibet. The squad will face Belgium’s Bashir Abdi and Ethiopia’s World under-20 gold medalist Addisu Yihune as well as World under-20 silver medalist Ayele Tadesse.
Two-time Commonwealth winner Wycliffe Kinyamal will be battling for top honours in the 800m race against Collins Kipruto.
The women’s 1,500m will feature world Under-20 champion Nelly Chepchirchir (1500m) and former champion Purity Chepkirui.
Abel Kipsang is set to battle with Norwegian superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 2,000m race. Kipsang will be looking for revenge after Ingebrigtsen after finishing fourth in 1500 in Budapest.