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Moraa was the heavy favorite to win the 800 meters that would have seen her pocket home a cool $60,000 (Ksh 7.73 million), but she had to settle for second place.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has shared encouraging words for Mary Moraa, advising the Kenyan middle-distance star to stay positive after her second-place finish in the 800 meters at the Athlos Women’s-Only event in New York.
The reigning world champion went into the race with high expectations following her recent Diamond League triumph in Brussels, but she was edged out by Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma, who claimed the win in an impressive time of 1:57.43. Moraa crossed the line in 1:58.05, a strong performance after a long and grueling season.
Despite not taking home the $60,000 prize for first place, Gatlin emphasized that Moraa's achievement was remarkable and that she should not dwell on falling short of victory.
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16:00 - 27.09.2024
Faith Kipyegon agrees with Noah Lyles on critical reason why athletes should not fear expressing themselves
Faith Kipyegon has agreed with Noah Lyles' sentiments on why athletes should do much more than just race during athletic meets.
Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin expressed his admiration for Moraa's effort in such a highly contested race. “It was a very competitive race.
"I thought Mary was gonna pull it off as well. It was the end of the season, and she was not going to be denied,” Gatlin said. “At the end of the day, (Duguma) came through, she got the victory, but all these ladies came away with the victory. They all got paid.”
The unique format of the Athlos Women’s-Only event ensured that all athletes walked away with substantial payouts, with 10 percent of the revenue generated from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and merchandise going directly to the competitors.
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15:35 - 27.09.2024
'It is huge and motivating'-Faith Kipyegon on why she chose to end season at Athlos Women's-Only event
Faith Kipyegon competed at the Athlos women's event for one primary reason as she ended up getting $60,000 (Ksh.7.73 million) richer in New York
This innovative approach meant that Moraa, along with the other athletes, would receive an additional payout beyond the regular prize money.
Gatlin’s co-host, Rodney Greene, also weighed in, admitting his slight disappointment, as he had predicted Moraa would cap off her season with a win.
However, he quickly acknowledged the toll of a long season on the Olympic bronze medalist, pointing to her consistent excellence throughout the year.
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18:30 - 27.09.2024
American icon on why women's-only Athlos meet in New York will redefine track and field
Justin Gatlin has explained why he thinks the recent women's-only Athlos track meet in New York will define a new era for the sport.
“It was a little upset for me because I thought Mary Moraa would have handled it, but she had a very long season," Greene noted.
"Not making any excuses for her, but she PRed at 1:56, ran the world record in the 600 meters — a very long season for her, but she handled it by running 1:57, which is impressive at this time of the year."
Greene also highlighted the financial benefits of the event, explaining that the athletes would receive additional earnings from the 10 percent revenue share.
"It’s not just about the prize money. They will be getting another cheque, which is a split between 10 percent of everything that was sold there. That’s unheard of,” Greene added.
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