Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala lost the 100m title at the 6th edition of Kip Keino Classic hosted at the Ulinzi Sports Complex today.
Australian speed Lachlan too good for Walaza and Omanyala
Kennedy Lachlan of Australia iced his debut in men’s 100m at the Kip Keino Classic with a Personal Best of 9.98 seconds.
South Africa’s wonder-boy, Bayanda ‘Wobble Wobble’ Wazala settled, who was also making his debut in Kenyan soil settled for second place in 10.03.
African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala, who was deemed as the race favourite, settled for third in 10.07.
Koech sizzles in Nairobi with 800m
Kenyan-born American Jonah Koech extended his red-hot form into the 2025 season, storming to victory in the men’s 800m.
Koech produced a commanding kick down the home straight to clock 1:43.32, comfortably ahead of Nicholas Kebenei (1:43.75) and Alex Ngeno (1:45.17).
His time was also well within the Olympic qualifying mark of 1:44.50 for the Tokyo 2025 games.
Koech came into the Kip Keino Classic fresh off another impressive performance, winning the 1,500m at the Rabat Diamond League in 3:31.43, a personal best.
He said he was thrilled to finally be competing at the level he always dreamed of.
“It has taken me 15 years to be able to compete like this and break my own barrier,” Koech said.
Koech revealed that his resurgence was largely inspired by support from his sponsors and his inner circle.
“I almost gave up but my kit company came in at the right time,” he added.
“I took long in school doing my degree and army training. Feels good to compete at my home away from home,” he noted
In the 200m men, Liberian Joseph Fahnbulleh won the title in 20.40 followed by South African Shaun Maswanganyi (20.47) and switzerland’s William Reais (20.72) with the only Kenyan Dennis Mwai coming in 6th position after clocking 20.91.
Ethiopian Hawi Abera won the 1,500m women in 4:06.52 beating Kenyan Purity Chepkirui to second at 4:06.97 and another Ethiopian Ksanet Alem was third at 4:07.15.