Former national 400 metres champion Zablon Ekwam has promised a memorable show during the Absa Kip Keino Classic on Saturday at his Ulinzi Sports Complex backyard.
The 27-year-old Kenya Defence Forces soldier said he had what it takes to deliver a world class performance since he now possesses the speed and endurance needed at excel at this level.
“What I am working on is my mental strength since I will be at home not only at the backdrop of fellow military personnel but Kenyans from all walks of life,” said Ekwam. “They will deserve a good show.”
Ekwam noted that when someone comes to fight you in your house, you use all the machinery at your disposal to subdue them.
“I know all the corners of this track and I will be there for money…big money. I am focused on winning this one to leave a mark…the man from Todonyang, Turkana, is prepared to break my legs for that victory,” said Ekwam.
Ekwam said that he wants his name inscribed in the history books as the first man to have won men’s 400m race when Kip Keino Classic was held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Ekwam said that he wants to do that in style by running his career best and hit the qualifying standards for the World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Ekwam ran a personal best of 44.69 to finish fourth during last year’s Kip Keino Classic won by Bayapo Ndori from Botswana in the fastest time run on Kenyan soil of 44.10.
That saw Ekwam hit the Paris Olympics qualifying time but his Summer Games debut ended in a fall that ended his race.
It will be Ekwam’s second 400m race this season after running 44.51 during the Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meeting in Siaya.
“I would have qualified if the track was certified,” said Ekwam.
He ran 20.72 in 200m at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix followed by a personal best 20.56 at Ulinzi Sports Complex. “That shows the track is super fast.
Qualifying for Olympics motivated Ekwam to upscale his game as he led the Kenya 4x400m team in qualifying for the world championships at the world relays in a national record time of 2:59.29 in China 20 days ago.
“We say in athletics I am one problem minus after the 4x400m relays qualification. I now need to hammer the 400m flat time for Tokyo,” said Ekwam.
He reckoned that he had developed into a world class athlete after making his debut at the world championships in 2023 with the mixed relay team.
“Are we really up for medals? That is what we should be discussing with our local coaches now as we prepare for Tokyo,” said Ekwam.
The bullish Ekwam will face African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie from Nigeria, world relays 4x400m gold medallist Zakithi Nene from South Africa and world relays 4x400m silver medallist Sherman Copper of Australia.
Ekwama and Kennedy Mutuku are the only Kenyans who will compete in the Discretionary event, while Boniface Mweresa, Brian Tinega, Kelvin Kiprotich and Kelvin Kipkorir will race in the National.
American sprinter Shannon Ray train at Ulinzi Sports Complex on May 29, 2025 ahead of the 2025 World Continental Gold Tour Kip Keino Classic.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
At the same time, American Ray Shannon hopes to be third time lucky when she takes the blocks in the women's 100m race at the Kip Keino Classic.
Ray finished third in 100m during the 2022 edition where Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won in 10.67 before chalking a similar position last year in 11.53 where Gambian Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye triumphed in 11.33.
" I just love Kenya because of its warm reception...people are so kind and talk nicely. The Safari tours at the Nairobi National Park are so cool," said Ray. "That aside, I hope to win this time around and that is the goal."
