Kenya could field a full team of men’s 400 metres runners for the first time in eight years at the 2025 World Athletics Championships that will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
This follows impressive performances by three athletes in the National Athletics Championships held at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Thursday and Friday.
Kenya Police Services duo of George Mutinda and Brian Tinega, and Kevin Kipkorir of Kenya Prisons Services hit the world championships qualifying standard of 44.85 seconds during the explosive final. The trio all returned their career best times.
Mutinda, who only took up athletics last year, was over the moon when he clocked 44.51 seconds to claim his maiden national title, relegating Tinega to second place in 44.67 as Kipkorir timed 44.80 for third place.
The last time Kenya had a full team at the World Athletics Championships was at the 2017 edition held in London, where Boniface Mweresa, Collins Omae and Raymond Kibet were sent packing at the preliminary stage.
Kenya also fielded a full team at the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, where Samson Kitur finished fourth in the final. Kenya’s Abednego Matilu fell in the semis, and Kennedy Ochieng exited in the championship in the quarter-final stage.
At the 1993 championships in Stuttgart, Germany, Kitur had claimed bronze, having reached the final alongside his compatriots Simon Kemboi and Kennedy Ochieng.
Stuttgart remains one of Kenya’s best performances in the race at the world championships, with Kitur claiming bronze, the country’s first and last medal over the distance.
“It’s great day for me. I have been working on this (attaining World Athletics Championship time) since I started training seriously in October last year,” 23-year-old Mutinda, who is a third year student pursuing bachelor of criminology at University of Embu, said.
“I have improved my endurance, which was lacking and this victory is a clear manifestation that I can do much better if I put in more effort,” the athlete from Masii in Machakos County said. He is coached by Salvan Mwangire.
The former basketballer who played as a guard tried his hand in athletics out of curiosity, and it stuck.
“May be athletics blood flows in our family. I am told my mother Jane Munyao was once an athlete and my father Peter Munyao played football,” said Mutinda, a great admirer of 100m and 200m world record holder, Usain Bolt from Jamaica.
“I can only hope for the best in the Kenyan trials as I pray for good health,” said Mutinda.
Tinega, the world mixed relay bronze medallist, said he had a great day on the track.
“I ran a career best 45.06 at Kip Keino Classic, and then this came. For three years, I have worked on running a sub-45 race, and I am glad it has finally come. It’s a good feeling,” the Africa 4x400m relay silver medallist observed.
“I just want to be in Tokyo (for the World Athletics Championships), and to make it to the final.”
National record holder and Kip Keino Classic 400m champion, Mercy Oketch from Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) reclaimed her 400m title in her second best time of 50.32, beating Mercy Chebet of Police and Lanoline Aoko of KDF in 51.80 and 51.81 respectively.
Kip Keino Classic champion Lilian Odira retained her national 800m crown effortlessly in 2:02.08, edging out Africa champion Sarah Moraa of Police to second place in 2:02.56 as South Rift’s Judy Kemunto timed 2:02.93 for third place.
Kelvin Loti was crowned the new national 800m champion in a time of 1:43.61 as defending champion Alex Ngeno slumped to bronze medal position in 1:45.55 behind Laban Chepkwony in 1:43.64.
African Games bronze medallist Mary Ekiru retained her 1,500m title in 4:09.68 with the 2022 world under-20 1,500m gold medallist Reynold Kipkorir taking the metric mile honours in men’s race in 3:38.30.
Silas Senchura was crowned the overall winner in men’s 10,000m after winning the second heat with the fastest time of 28:26.17, beating veteran Edwin Soi to second place in 28:29.19.
First heat winner Kelvin Rotich settled for bronze in 28:30.01 as defending champion Daniel Simiu finished second in 28:30.89 for fourth place overall.
