Olympic Champion hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg, world under 20 3,000m steeplechase champion Edmund Serem and Africa 800m champion Lilian Odira were the winners at the 6th edition of Kip Keino Classic at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Katzberg peerless in men’s hammer throw at Kip Keino Classic
The Olympic men’s hammer throw champion Katzberg powered to victory with a world lead of 82.73m to take top honour in what was his second ever appearance at the competition.
The Canadian beat Croatian Matija Greguric claimed second place after recording a personal best (PB) of 76.68 metres as Daniel Raba of Hungary had to be content with third, after a season’s best (SB) of 75.93m.
“I did not expect to set a World Lead here but I love how my season is shaping. Last year threw my personal best and won gold at the Olympic,” the 23-year-old said.
He described Nairobi as his ‘good luck charm’ and a place where he has always posted good results.
“Kenya feels like a second home I started off my career here and that is why I love coming back plus I also keep posting good results here. I did not expect to set a World Lead here but I love how my season is shaping. Last year threw my personal best and won gold at the Olympics,” he said.
Also in the same competition was Kenya’s Dominic Abunda who finished eighth with a SB of 61.50 metres.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer was positive, despite failing to make the podium.
“I’m glad to have achieved my season best today, but that was not the goal. I really wanted to hit the qualifying mark for the World Championships. Competing with the likes of the Olympic champion (Ethan Katzberg) is good for me because I’ve gained a lot of skills,” he said.
Lilian Odira clocks PB in 800m to qualify for World Championships
African 800m champion Lilian Odira booked her ticket to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after clinching victory.
Odira, running her first outdoor 800m race of the season, delivered a perfectly paced tactical performance at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, stopping the clock at a personal best of 1:58.31. She held off Botswana’s Nowe Oratile, who also set a personal best of 1:58.47 to finish second.
Kenya’s Sarah Moraa completed the podium in third place with another personal best of 1:58.96, making it a high-quality race with all top three finishers dipping under two minutes.
Last year’s winner and reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa did not take part in this year’s race.
“I have really worked hard from the cross-country build-up. I was coming to gauge my body,” said Odira. “Clocking a new personal best in my first 800m outdoor competition was huge — and qualifying for Tokyo.”
Second-placed Oratile Nowe of Botswana expressed mixed feelings about the outcome.
“I expected to win, but I’m happy to have finished the race healthy,” said Nowe. “I have to work on my start since that’s what hasn’t worked for me today. I’m looking forward to improving in my next competition, which will be next month.”
Youngster Serem staggers to success at Kip Keino Classic
Serem won the water barriers and jumps in 8:27.68 ahead of Dinka Fikadu 8:27.97 and Gemechu Godana in 8:31.32
The youngster stopped the timer at 8:27.68 to cross the finish line, holding off a last-minute challenge from Dinka Fikadu, who had to make peace with a second-place finish – clocking a personal best of 8:27.97.
Serem saluted the vociferous home crowd, thanking them for spurring on him to victory when all seemed lost.
“I competed last week in Rabat and now at home. I’m overwhelmed by how the crowd has cheered me. That’s a memory I will always carry with when I’m competing outside,” the African 3000m steeplechase silver medalist said.
Serem was competing less than a week after clocking a season’s best of 8:07.47 to finish third in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the fourth leg of the Diamond League in Rabat on Sunday