Zakithti Nene Blazes to 43.74 World Lead as Records Fall at Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi

The 2025 Kip Keino Classic delivered a spectacular showcase of elite athletics at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex, with six meeting records and two world-leading performances lighting up the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting. South Africa’s Zakithti Nene stole the spotlight with a sensational 43.74 in the men’s 400 metres, the fastest time in the world this year. Canadian hammer stars Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers swept their events with dominant performances, while fierce sprint showdowns, breakthrough middle-distance times, and strong field events added to a memorable edition of Kenya’s premier track and field event.

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Men’s 400 metres:

South Africa’s Zakithti Nene delivered the performance of the day, winning the men’s 400 metres in a lifetime best and world-leading 43.74. Nene dominated the race, finishing more than a second ahead of Nigeria’s Chidi Okezi (44.98) and Kenya’s Zablon Ekwam (45.01). Nene shaved nearly half a second off his previous best of 44.22 set at the South African Championships earlier this year.

Men’s Hammer Throw:

World and Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg claimed his second consecutive Kip Keino Classic title with a massive throw of 82.73m — the third-best mark of his career and the current world lead. The Canadian was in a league of his own, outdistancing Croatia’s Matija Greguric, who set a PB of 76.68m.

Women’s Hammer Throw:

Camryn Rogers completed a Canadian sweep in the hammer events, throwing 77.93m to win the women’s competition. Denmark’s Katrine Koch Jacobsen took second with 74.21m, just edging out 2023 world silver medallist Janee Kassanavoid (74.17m).

Men’s 800 metres:

USA’s Jonah Koech equalled the meeting record with a powerful run of 1:43.32 to win the men’s 800 metres. Kenya’s Nicholas Kebenei impressed with a sub-1:44 finish in second (1:43.75), and Alex Ngeno Kipngetich claimed third in 1:45.17.

Men’s 100 metres:

Australian sprinter and world indoor silver medallist Lachlan Kennedy surged to a wind-legal 9.98 (-0.7 m/s), narrowly beating South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza (10.03) and home favorite Ferdinand Omanyala (10.07), the African record holder.

Men’s 200 metres:

Double Olympic finalist Joseph Fahnbulleh took the men’s 200 metres in 20.40 (-1.5 m/s), holding off South Africa’s Shawn Maswanganyi (20.47) and Switzerland’s William Reais (20.72).

Women’s 100 metres:

Liberia’s Maia McCoy, runner-up in Rabat’s Diamond League meet, claimed victory in 11.21 (-1.7 m/s), ahead of Destiny Smith Barnett (11.29) and Egypt’s national record holder Bassant Hemida (11.49).

Men’s Javelin Throw:

Brazil’s Luis Mauricio Da Silva broke his national record with a winning mark of 86.34m after opening with an 84.54m effort. Germany’s Thomas Röhler, the 2016 Olympic champion, finished second (80.79m), just ahead of Portugal’s Leandro Ramos (80.68m).

Women’s 800 metres:

Kenya’s Lillian Odira captured the women’s 800 metres in a PB of 1:58.31, narrowly edging Botswana’s Oratil Nowe (1:58.47) and Sarah Moraa (1:58.96). All three athletes achieved personal bests.

Women’s 400 metres:

Mercy Oktech delivered a historic run in the women’s 400 metres, setting both a new meeting and Kenyan national record with 50.14. The performance comes on the heels of her mixed 4x400m relay qualification at the World Relays.

Men’s 400 metres Hurdles:

Kenya’s Wiseman Ware thrilled the home crowd by winning the men’s 400m hurdles in a meeting record of 48.34. Botswana’s Kemorena Tisang followed with a national record of 48.59.

Women’s 400 metres Hurdles:

Norwegian record holder Amalie Iuel retained her title in 54.80, trimming 0.09 off her own meeting record. Kristina Halonen of Finland was runner-up in 55.32.

Men’s 1500 metres:

Tokyo Olympic fourth-place finisher Asbel Kipsang led a Kenyan 1-2 with a 3:35.19 finish after a final lap of 61.10. Matthew Kipsang followed in 3:35.87.

Men’s 5000 metres:

Ethiopia’s Amare Hailemaryam executed a strong final 200m kick to win the men’s 5000 metres in 13:34.02.

Men’s 3000 metres Steeplechase:

Kenya’s world U20 champion Edmund Serem held off a charging Dirika Fikadu of Ethiopia to take the steeplechase in 8:27.68, with Fikadu clocking 8:27.97.

Women’s 3000 metres Steeplechase:

Wosane Asefa, born in 2007, stunned the field with a personal best of 9:30.68 to win the women’s steeplechase. Ethiopians Gesene Tufa (9:31.72) and Firehiwot Gesese (9:32.09) completed the podium sweep.

Women’s 5000 metres:

Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat surged at the halfway mark and never looked back, winning the women’s 5000 metres in 15:03.33. Kenya’s Maurine Chebor followed in 15:14.57.

Women’s Long Jump:

Egypt’s Esraa Owis soared to a wind-aided 6.94m (+2.4 m/s), while Brazil’s Maysa Lissandra Campos leaped a legal 6.84m to break the meeting record and finish second.