Kip Keino Classic 2026: Gabby Thomas Makes History in Kenya as Ferdinand Omanyala Reclaims Title

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has reclaimed his Kip Keino Classic title, clocking under 10 seconds for the second consecutive time this season.

Ferdinand Omanyala had a shaky start off the blocks, but managed to regain his momentum midway and eventually crossed the finish line in a time of 9.96 seconds.

South Africa’s Rivaldo Roberts finished second in 10.12 seconds as Canada’s Aaron Brown rounded up the podium in the race, crossing the finish line in 10.15 seconds.

Ferdinand Omanyala is just fresh from a dominant performance at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where he also stunned his opponents to win the race in 9.98 seconds.

American Christopher Borzor came in second in 10.16 seconds as Italy’s Chituru Ali rounded up the podium in a time of 10.26 seconds.

Kenya’s Mark Otieno, who placed sixth at the Ulinzi Sports Complex last year, managed a seventh position while Gift Leotlela of South Africa, a former African 4x100m relay champion, was disqualified for a false start.

Triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas delivered a commanding performance, storming to victory in the women’s 100m in 11.01 seconds and replicating the same performance in the 200m.

Fresh from a dominant outing at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where she claimed both the 100m and 200m titles, Gabby Thomas once again showcased her class with a sharp start and strong finish to hold off fellow Americans Cambrea Sturgis and Maia McCoy, who clocked 11.15 and 11.18 seconds respectively, with McCoy recording a season’s best.

Moments after snatching the 100m in 11.01 seconds, Thomas, the Paris Olympics 4x100m champion, put away the field in a world lead time of 21.89. She missed breaking her personal best in 100m by just 0.01 seconds while she has a career best of 21.60 in 200m.

Not only did Thomas cruise to a world lead but also set a new championship record, erasing the previous time of 22.07 by fellow countrywoman Sha'Carri Richardson in 2023 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“It was great, and I am happy to win in both events, which was a replica of my performance in Addis Ababa,” said Thomas, who won the 100m (11.13) and (21.89).

“I didn't expect to run that fast …Nairobi has been very nice to me. I will definitely come back next year,” said Thomas, who shifts focus to the Botswana Golden Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday this week in Gaborone.

“The goal is to keep winning. Focus on winning and the times will come,” said Thomas, who once again edged out Cambrea Sturgis to second place in personal best 21.93 as Kenya’s Millicent Ndoro dipped to a huge personal best 23.21 for third place.

Triple South African 200m champion Sinesipho Dambile hauled a personal best 19.77 to put away the men’s 200m title as Brian Levell from Jamaica cruised home second in 19.93.

“It feels great to run a sub-20 race. It’s been the longest time coming. But my consistency has been showing back in South Africa,” said Dambile, who was stunned to run career best. “I was not chasing the time, I just wanted to win.”

Kenya’s Mercy Oketch successfully defended her 400m title during the seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.

The national champion cruised to victory in a season’s best time of 50.17 seconds, just three seconds shy of her meet record she set during last year’s edition at Ulinzi Sports Complex. America’s Paris Peoples came second in 51.06 seconds as home-girl Mercy Chebet sealed the podium positions after setting her season best of 51.54 seconds.

“It was a good race but very tough. I trained to win, but a podium finish is okay with me. It was a good build up for the World Relays in Botswana,” said Oketch.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Norway’s Amalie Iuel produced a standout display, powering to victory in a world-leading and meet-record time of 54.12 seconds.

She finished ahead of Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya and Belgium’s Paulien Couckuyt, who placed second and third in 54.60 and 55.47 seconds respectively.

“I love Kip Keino…amazing track, amazing atmosphere, and it's so much fun coming out here. The spectators always come out and put on a show. I have clocked a personal best, and I'm extremely happy to have peaked early this season,” said Luel.

Canada’s Camryn Rogers delivered a standout performance to successfully defend her women’s hammer throw title, setting a new meet record of 80.03m.

The Olympic and double world champion improved on her winning mark of 77.93m from last year’s debut, crediting the electric Nairobi crowd for inspiring her record-breaking effort.

France’s Rose Loga claimed second place with a season-best throw of 75.19m, while Iceland’s Gudrun Hallgrímsdóttir secured third with a personal best of 73.88m.

“It’s been amazing…a meet record. I’m satisfied. This is my second time here, and if you have me back, I’ll be excited. The atmosphere has been incredible for sure,” Rogers said.

“I’m focusing on the Commonwealth Games; that’s my main event of the year. I’m also excited about the Diamond League and other meets throughout the season,” the 27-year-old added.

In the men’s hammer throw, fellow Canadian Ethan Katzberg extended his dominance, securing a third consecutive win with a world-leading throw of 82.43m.

Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan finished second after registering a season-best 81.26m, while the Czech Republic’s Volodymyr Myslyvcusk placed third with 77.71m.

Kenya’s Dominic Abunda impressed with a personal best of 62.70m to finish seventh, ahead of compatriot Adelbert Museveni, who recorded 53.50m.

In the women’s long jump, Burundi’s Marthe Koala clinched top honours with a leap of 6.77m. She finished ahead of American Tionna Tobias, who managed 6.49m, and Egypt’s Esraa Owis, who settled for third place with 6.47m.

It was a disappointing outing for world 800m champion Lilian Odira, who relinquished her Kip Keino Classic crown to Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew.

Odira set the early pace, hitting the 400m mark in 56.47, but Getachew surged ahead in the final stages, taking control with under 200 metres remaining to clock 1:58.79 for victory.

Odira finished second in a season-best 1:59.15, while fellow Ethiopian Habtam Gebeyehu claimed third with a personal best of 1:59.72.

“Running sub-two in the first race this season signals a better season ahead. My coach was watching and she has noted the mistakes and we will go work on them,” said Odira. “I have a long season ahead and I look forward to running fast times.”

The men’s 800m delivered a strong showing for the hosts, with Kenya sweeping the podium in a highly competitive race.

Kelvin Kimtai Loti produced a well-timed run to take victory in 1:43.63, holding off Alex Ng’eno, who clocked a season-best 1:44.12 for second place. Noah Kibet completed the podium with a personal best of 1:44.44.

“My tactics worked out well. I kicked at the right time and went all the way. I came here to win and I am happy,” said Loti, noting that Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s victory in the 1500m earlier in the day had inspired his performance.

Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a strong statement, storming to victory in the men’s 1500m in a personal best of 3:34.11.

Wanyonyi edged out Olympic bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot, who finished second in 3:34.73, while Kyumbe Munguti clocked 3:36.21 to place third.

“I am happy with my performance. The wave light helped to guide my pace. I still love my 800m specialty which I will continue competing in this year. I don’t want to be in a rush to double,” Wanyonyi said after victory.

Mirriam Cherop produced a composed and tactical run to win the women’s 1500m in 4:08.49. She surged ahead after the pacemaker dropped out, holding off Ethiopia’s Deseta Tadele (4:09.55 PB) and Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi (4:09.66).

“I came here to test my endurance and I'm happy with the performance. I look forward to a better season this year. I was motivated by the huge number of fans who turned up. They were like pace setters for us,” said Cherop.

Cornelius Kemboi pulled off a surprise victory in the men’s 5000m, breaking away from his rivals in the closing stages to win in 13:09.31.

He finished ahead of Frankline Kibet (13:10.70 PB), while world bronze medallist Jacob Krop settled for third in 13:13.59.

“It was a good race. I executed as planned. The wavelight also assisted even though I missed my personal best. I enjoyed competing here and the crowd was amazing,” said Kemboi.

In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Joyce Biwott dominated a fast race to win in a personal best of 9:55.26. She finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Zeritu Dada (9:57.27) and Kenya’s Mercy Chepng’eno (9:58.40), with all podium finishers recording career-best times.