World Indoor Championships: Bad Start for Kenya as Four Bow Out but Krop and Tinega Carry Medal Hopes

Kenyan athletes had a tough time on the opening day of the 2026 World Indoor Championships when four of them were eliminated, reducing their possible medal count.

Team Kenya started the day with high hopes when seven athletes lined up for Day One of the action but by the end of the programme, only three were still standing.

Kenya’s day started well when Mercy Adongo Oketch made it to the semi-final of the 400m after finishing second in her first-round heat in a time of 51:57 seconds but she met her waterloo in the semis when she missed out on a ticket to the final when she clocked 51.90 for second place.

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In the 800m, Rosemary Longisa and Glady’s Chepngetich bowed out at the first round, missing a chance to make it to the semis after finishing last in their respective heats. However, Brian Tinega made it to the 400m final which will be contested on Saturday night (8.34pm Kenyan time), looking for the country's first medal.

In the evening session, Festus Lagat also bowed out of the men’s 1,500m race at the first round after a seventh-place finish in a time of 3:40.26.

In the men’s 800m, Noah Kibet gave Kenya hope when he made it to the semi-final after clocking 1:45.84 to win his heat. He has his date with destiny on Saturday afternoon (3.16pm Kenyan time) when his semi-final race will take place.

Experienced Susan Ejore also sealed her place in the 1,500m semi-final when she managed a third place in the first round, having managed a time of 4:11.41.

Also running on Saturday night will be Jacob Krop will be looking to win Kenya a medal when he squares it off in the 3,000m final which will gun off at 9.22pm (East African time).