by Alfonz Juck
The Kip Keino Classic is in its fifth year. The crowd did not look as incredible as last year, but the performances added up. It would be great to meet on the second Continental Tour Gold stop of 2024.
The KIp Keino Classic always has some unique races. I love their attention to the hammer throw and featuring some of the finest middle-distance runners in East Africa.
Two great sprint races, in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Oh, and do not worry about Ferdinand Omanyala, perhaps Kenya’s great sprinter is building up slowly for Paris 2024.
Katzberg 84.38 WL, Lindsey 19.71 WL, + 3 more world leads
NAIROBI (KEN, Apr 20): World hammer champion Ethan Katzberg of Canada throws 84.38 WL (81.79 – 82.06 – X – 81.50 – 84.38 – 83.26) at Kip Keino Classic (WACT Gold). It is the best throw since 2008, no. 9 all-time, and second-best ex-former USSR/Belarus. Also best ever U23. Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan finished second (80.76) ahead of Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki (79.14).
What an exciting race between Courtney Lindsey and Letsile Tebogo, who battled over the furlong, both hitting 19.71! #KipKeinoClassic2024, #letsiletebogo, #courtneylindsay, https://t.co/kGaDIaj7HC
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) April 20, 2024
Despite the strong headwind, Courtney Lindsey of the USA stormed to 19.71 (-1.5) WL/PB over Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (19.71).
What an exciting race between Courtney Lindsey and Letsile Tebogo, who battled over the furlong, both hitting 19.71! #KipKeinoClassic2024, #letsiletebogo, #courtneylindsay, https://t.co/kGaDIaj7HC
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) April 20, 2024
Another Botswanan Bayapo Ndori clocked 44.10 WL/PB over US Bryce Deadmon (44.41), Leungo Scotch of Botswana (44.54), and Zablon Ekwam (44.69 PB), Paris standards for all.
World leading is a team affair.
Bayapo Ndori won @KipKeinoClassic 400 m with a new PB and meeting record 44.10.
The time is also the new world leading held till today by his training mate Letsile Tebogo.Other teammate Leungo Scotch run a new PB 44.54
🟠🔵
🇧🇼 Botswana rulez pic.twitter.com/N0HWKXEboL
— Rosa & Associati (@rosassociati) April 20, 2024
There are also world leads in other men’s races: in the 1500m for Reynold Cheruiyot (3:31.96) is ahead of Brian Komen (3:32.29 PB and Paris standard) and Daniel Munguti (3:33.71 PB), and in the 800m for Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:43.57) over Aaron Kemei (1:44.10 PB).
Mary Moraa topped the women’s event in 1:57.96 ahead of Nelly Chepchirchir (1:58.26) and Vivian Chebet (1:58.93).
Kenneth Bednarek of the USA won the windy 100m in 9.91w (2.2) over Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (9.99w), Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain (10.00w), Italy’s Chituru Ali (10.01w), and Ferdinand Omanyala (10.03w).
Home wins also for Wiseman Mukhobe (48.57 Paris standard) in the 400m hurdles, Abraham Kibiwot (8:20.54) in the 3000m steeplechase, and Mary Ekiru (4:06.26) in the 1500m.
Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain won the 400m in 51.63 PB ahead of Mercy Chebet (51.71 PB), Gina Bass of Gambia topped the 100m in 11.33 (-1.6), Namibia’s Christine Mboma finished last (12.32).
5000m wins for Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo (15:14.54) and U20 Abdisa Fayisa (13:34.77 PB).
A couple of European wins for Norway’s Amalie Iuel (54.89) ahead of Paulien Couckuyt of Belgium (55.23) in the 400m hurdles, for Latvia’s Gatis Cakss (81.74) over Thomas Röhler of Germany (80.62) in the javelin and for Michaela Hrubá of the Czech Republic (190) in the high jump.
