Mary Moraa signs up for Ksh13m Michael Johnson-led Grand Slam Track, could contest longer distance

World 800m champion Mary Moraa is the latest Kenyan athlete to sign up for the top paying Grand Slam Track whose winners will take home Ksh13 million from 2025.

World 800m champion Mary Moraa is third Kenyan athlete to sign up for Grand Slam Track, the lucrative athletics meet set to gun off next year.

Moraa joins a long list of top runners who will grace the event that is being spearheaded by American sprint legend Michael Johnson.

Moraa is among five female athletes who were announced on Thursday and is signed up as a racer in the 800/1,500m category.

The 24-year-old is the third Racer signed to the “short distance” group that will contest the 800m and 1,500m at the four Slams starting in Kingston, Jamaica before proceeding to the United States where legs in Miami, Philadelphia and Los Angeles are lined up.

“I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Grand Slam Track. This is a big step for me, and I’m determined to work hard and give my absolute best in every race,” said Moraa as per CITIUS Mag.

“Competing in all four Slam events will push me to be better and to keep growing as an athlete. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and know this is a chance to truly elevate my career, and represent Kenya on the global stage.”

Moraa could feature in the 1,500m for the first time, with 1,000m the longer distance she has ever contested, when she finished third at this year’s Silesia Diamond League over the distance.

According to the US outlet, Olympics 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson and three-time Olympics 1,500m Faith Kipyegon are among the athletes being wooed to sign up in the 800m/1500m category as well as Georgia Bell, former Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu, Ethiopian duo Diribe Welteji and Tsige Duguma as well as Americans Emily Mackay and Elle St Pierre.

Moraa becomes the third Kenyan athlete after Ronaldo Kwemoi and Agnes Ngetich signed up for the race where $100,000 (Ksh13 million) is in store for winners of each discipline per leg.