Reigning African Games gold medalist Chidi Okezie delivered an impressive performance at the sixth edition of the Kip Keino Classic, clocking a season-best time of 44.98 seconds in the men’s 400m. The race, held Saturday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, Kenya, saw the 31-year-old Nigerian finish second behind South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Okezie, a two-time bronze medalist at the African Championships, was hoping to hit the 44.80-second qualifying mark required for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Despite a valiant effort, he narrowly missed out, with his time just 0.01 seconds shy of his personal best. The standout performance of the day, however, came from Nene, who blazed to a 43.76-second finish—his fastest ever, a world-leading mark for the year, and the fifth fastest time ever recorded by an African in the event.
After the race, Okezie reflected positively on his performance. “I’m thrilled with how I ran. This season has been all about hard work, and getting this close to my PB shows I’m on the right path,” he said. “Huge congratulations to Zakithi—what an incredible race. Performances like that inspire me to keep pushing my limits.”
A graduate of Hampton University, Okezie has now competed in six races this season. With the World Championships drawing closer, he’ll be looking to sharpen his form and hopefully secure that qualification standard in the meets ahead.
Over in the women’s 400m, Kenya’s Mercy Oketch lit up the track with a sensational run, breaking the national record with a time of 50.14 seconds. Her performance eclipsed the previous national best held by her mentor, Mary Moraa, and punched her ticket to the Tokyo Championships. Uganda’s Leni Shida wasn’t far behind, finishing second in 50.39 seconds, while fellow Kenyan Mercy Chebt placed third with a personal best of 51.52 seconds.
In the field events, Canadian athletes Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers both delivered standout performances. Katzberg reclaimed the men’s hammer throw title with an 82.73-metre effort, having won in 2024 and placed second the year prior. He comfortably outdistanced Croatia’s Matija Greguric, who took second place with a 76.68-metre throw.
Camryn Rogers had a rocky start in the women’s hammer throw, fouling on her first two attempts. But the reigning world champion bounced back brilliantly, launching a 77.93-metre throw to seal victory. Denmark’s Katrine Koch Jacobsen came in second with a mark of 74.21 metres, rounding off a competitive event for the women’s field.
