•Kirwa assured they have thoroughly analysed Hodgkinson and other competitors and believe Moraa will have a headstart in Paris.
•Moraa, who is also known as 'Kisii Express' claimed the world title in Budapest last year in 1:56.03 ahead of Hodgkinson (1:56.34) and Olympic champion Athing Mu (1:56.61).
Image: COURTESY
National athletics coach Julius Kirwa believes Olympic 800m silver medallist, Keeley Hodgkinson will pose little threat to world champion Mary Moraa's hunt for maiden title in Paris.
This is despite the Briton's victory in their last encounter in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon last May.
Hodgkinson triumphed with a world-leading time of 1:55.78, while Moraa finished second in 1:56.71. Britain's Jemma Reekie took third in 1:57.45.
Kirwa assured they have thoroughly analysed Hodgkinson and other competitors and believe Moraa will have a headstart in Paris.
“We have detailed statistics about her (Hodgkinson) and the other competitors and we know what to do in Paris. We have prepared Moraa tactically to ensure she neutralises any threats,” Kirwa noted.
The seasoned tactician also highlighted the World Athletics Championships, where Moraa edged out Hodgkinson for the world title.
“Moraa has beaten the Briton once during the World Championships and we are confident she will make a repeat performance in Paris,” Kirwa stated.
Moraa, who is also known as 'Kisii Express' claimed the world title in Budapest last year in 1:56.03 ahead of Hodgkinson (1:56.34) and Olympic champion Athing Mu (1:56.61).
Kirwa said Moraa has grown since her last Olympic assignment, where she was eliminated in the semi-finals.
“ She has come of age since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She also knows what’s at stake and that will serve as her motivation,” Kirwa stated.
During the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Moraa was eliminated in the semi-finals after clocking 2:00.47.
Mu went on to clinch the Olympic title in Tokyo in 1:55.21 with Hodgkinson (1:55.88) settling for silver and Raevyn Rogers (1:56.81) completing the podium.
Kirwa highlighted the significance of Moraa winning Kenya's first women's gold medal in 16 years.
“We pray that she gets to Paris in good health. Winning gold for the country will be the first since 2008 and that will be a major milestone,” Kirwa noted.
World junior and African record holder Pamela Jelimo was the first and only Kenyan to win gold during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she clocked 1:54.87.
Compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei placed second in 1:56.07 with Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi (1:56.73) completing the podium.
Kirwa acknowledged the daunting task of breaking a world record, owing to the event's intensity, emphasising that the main target is to win the gold medal.
“There are a lot of heats in the 800m. The target is for Moraa to clinch gold but of course, if she goes on to break a record, it will be a bonus,” Kirwa said.
The women’s record of 1:53.28 over the distance has stood for 40 years and was set by the Czech Republic’s Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983 in Germany. Her record is currently the longest-standing unshared individual world record in athletics.
Only two athletes, the late Nadezhda Olizarenko of Ukraine (1:53.43) in 1980 and Jelimo (1:54.01) in 2008, have come close to Kratochvílová's mark.
The women’s event kicks off on August 2 with the repechage round the following day. The semi-finals are set for August 4 before the finals on August 5.
In Paris, Moraa will be in the company of Lilian Odira and Vivian Chebet. Kirwa believes the girls can pull off a clean podium sweep.
“There is a high likelihood that the girls will secure a 1-2-3 finish. All three of them are strong and will push each other,” he added.