National 800m champion Lilian Odira is hungry for more accolades in 2025 after a splendid breakout 2024 season.
Her meteoric rise from a domestic contender to an Olympic semi-finalist underscored her immense potential in the two-lap race.
“Last year was a really good year for me. I was able to accomplish so much and gain numerous accolades. I am now hungry for more success in 2025,” Odira told the Star sports.
Her campaign started on 6 January at the Athletics Kenya weekend meeting at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, where she signaled her intent with a second-place finish, clocking 2:09.70.
She followed that up with another runner-up finish at the third AK track and field meeting at Nyayo Stadium in 2:04.73.
Her consistent performances earned her a ticket to the 2024 African Games in Accra, Ghana, after she finished second at the national trials with 2:02.51.The trip to Ghana was her first-time racing outside Kenya.
However, the transition was not without its hurdles.
“It was nerve-wracking. I had no international experience and the weather difference really challenged me. I was stepping onto the track with seasoned runners, but I told myself I had to give it my best,” the 25-year-old recalled.
Unexperienced Odira narrowly missed the podium finishing fourth in 2:00.81 behind Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma (1:57.73), Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi (1:58.59) and Kenya’s Vivian Chebet (2:00.27).
Despite the disappointment Odira took the Accra challenge as a learning curve.
“I was up against the best, Duguma, the world indoor champion, Nakaayi, a former world champion and Chebet, who had years of experience. I learned so much and, most importantly, improved my time.”
Two months later, Odira stamped her authority by clinching the national 800m title at the national championships on 22 May at Ulinzi Complex, clocking 2:02.21.
“Winning the national title was special. The African Games had fueled my hunger and I was looking forward to even more accolades,” she stated.
The national triumph secured her a place at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon, where she secured her first-ever continental medal, a silver medal, after timing 2:00.36, narrowly losing to compatriot Sarah Moraa (2:00.27).
“Cameroon was a very good experience. I was happy to win silver in my second continental appearance. I came back to the country more motivated,” she said.
Despite her rapid rise, Odira still had one major hurdle—qualifying for the Paris24 Olympics.
The automatic entry standard stood at 1:59.30, meaning she had to break the two-minute barrier at the national trials on 14 June at Nyayo Stadium.
“Before the trials, my coach told me I was capable of making it and I did not want to let her down. It was also my first race under my new manager and he told me not to put so much pressure on myself,” she recalled.
“The field was tough and I think I was the underdog because no one was counting on me,” she noted.
However, Odira used ‘the underdog tag’ to her advantage, running a sensational 1:59.27 to punch her ticket to Paris.
“I was so happy. It was an emotional moment as well as one of the biggest achievements in my life,” she said.
In Paris, Odira clocked 1:58.83 for third place in Heat 6 behind Jamaica’s Natoya Toppin (1:58.66) and Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth (1:58.77), securing her spot in the semis.
“When I first saw the heats classifications, I was really scared but I believed in myself. I pushed myself. I did not want to go to the repechage round which would have been even more exhausting,” said Odira.
Then came her biggest challenge yet, lining up alongside Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in semi-final 3.
“I completely froze after learning I would be up against Keely. She had a PB of 1:54 and held the world lead at the time, she was at the top of her game. But I knew my coach, manager and the whole nation was behind me so I gave it my best. I made a slight mistake in the race but I am proud I was able to finish with a new personal best,” she said.
Odira clocked 1:58.53 in her semi-final which Hodgkinson breezed through in 1:56.86 to go on and claim the Olympic title in 1:56.72.
In preparation for what she expects to be a great season, Odira, a Hellen Obiri mentee and in-law, has already started her 2025 campaign with cross country races to build endurance.
She finished third at the AK cross country series Bomet leg (6:18.50), second in Ol Kalou (9:10.6) and a ‘Did Not Finish’ at the opening leg in Machakos.
Odira switched from the 2km to the grueling 10 km during the Prisons Cross Country Championships and was able to secure a bronze medal in 33:44.9.
Her next major test will be the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, from 21- 23 March, followed by select Diamond League meetings as she builds up for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
With a PB of 1:58.53, she has already met the 1:59 entry mark for the Tokyo Championships but she hopes to lower her mark to enhance her chances.
