Mary Moraa

Berlin, Sep 1 (PL) Kenyan runner Mary Moraa broke the world record in the 600-meter flat race today during the Istaf Berlin athletic meeting.

Moraa, reigning world champion in 800 meters, clocked one minute 21 seconds and 63 hundredths, to lower by 14 hundredths the record of South African Caster Semenya.

"I feel very happy, because to achieve this record in the first attempt is simply overwhelming. I am very happy for my coach, my sponsors and my team," said the 24-year-old record holder.

Semenya held the orb record with 1:21.77, also achieved in Berlin on August 27, 2017.

"I said to myself, I'm going to do it, and I did it," concluded the bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, ahead of Shafiqua Maloney (1:22.98) and Germany's Alica Schmidt (1:24.88).

In the same race, Jamaicans Yanique Thompson (12.73) and Britany Anderson (12.89) dominated the 100m hurdles.