Kip Keino Classic Recap: Record-Breaking Performances and World-Leading Results
champion Ethan Katzberg dominated the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, a Continental Tour Gold meeting held at the Kasarani Stadium, with an 84.38m hammer throw, the best performance in the event since 2008. His throw elevated him to ninth on the world all-time list, surpassing his previous personal best (PB) of 81.25m. Katzberg consistently improved through the rounds, culminating in his record-breaking fifth-round throw of 84.38m. Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan finished second with an 80.76m throw, while Poland's Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki and five-time world champion Paweł Fajdek followed with 79.14m and 75.82m, respectively.
In the women's hammer throw, USA's Janee Kassanavoid achieved a winning throw of 75.99m in the fifth round. She initially took the lead with 74.22m in the second round. European champion Bianca Ghelber from Romania placed second with a 73.38m throw, while Norway's Beatrice Nedberge took third with 70.77m.
Last year’s NCAA 100 metres champion Courtney Lindsey stormed to a very close 200 metres win in a world lead of 19.71 into a headwind of -1.5 m/s sharing the same time with double world medallist Letsile Tebogo.
In the men's 100 metres, Kenny Bednarek won with a wind-assisted 9.91 (+2.2 m/s), beating Liberia's Emmanuel Matadi, Great Britain's Jeremiah Azu, and Italy's Chituru Ali, among others.
In the men's 400 metres, Botswana's Bayapo Ndori achieved a world-leading time of 44.10, ahead of Bryce Deadmon (44.41) and Leungo Scotch (44.54). Kenya’s Zablon Ekhal Ekwam set an Olympic qualifying time and a PB of 44.69.
World champion Mary Moraa from Kenya set a meeting record in the women's 800 metres with a time of 1:57.96. Nelly Chepchirchir and Vivian Chebet finished second and third with times of 1:58.26 and 1:58.93, respectively. Emmanuel Wanyonyi from Kenya won the men's 800 metres with 1:43.57, leading an all-Kenyan podium.
In the men's 1500 metres, Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot took the win in 3:31.96, with Brian Komen setting a PB of 3:32.29 to claim second. In the women's 1500 metres, Mary Ekiru triumphed with a time of 4:06.26.
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase was won by Abraham Kibiwot, who clocked 8:20.54. Amos Serem finished second with 8:21.40. Stella Rutto emerged victorious in the women's 3000 metres steeplechase with a time of 9:39.57.
Marta Alemayo, a world under-20 cross-country champion, won the women's 5000 metres in 15:14.54. The men's 5000 metres saw Ethiopia’s Addisa Fayisa claim victory with a time of 13:34.77.
Norway's Amalie Iuel set a world-leading time of 54.89 in the women's 400 metres hurdles, while Kenya's Wisemen Were Mukhobe set a meeting record of 48.57 in the men's 400 metres hurdles.
In the women's high jump, Michaela Hruba from the Czech Republic cleared 1.90m to take first place. Maja Nilsson from Sweden finished second, also clearing 1.90m, while Elena Vallortigara from Italy came in third with 1.86m.
