Kip Keino Classic: Sturgis on how racing with Gabby Thomas has helped improve her times
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 22.04.26. | 18:31
The 27-year-old arrived in Nairobi earlier this week and will line up at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, where she is expected to face defending 100m champion Maia McCoy and Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas
American sprinter Cambrea Sturgis has sent an early statement ahead of her first appearance at the Absa Kip Keino Classic, declaring she is ready to take on some of the biggest names in women’s sprinting.
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The 27-year-old arrived in Nairobi earlier this week and will line up at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, where she is expected to face defending 100m champion Maia McCoy and Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas.
Thomas, who had initially entered the 400m, has since switched plans and will now double in both the 100m and 200m races, setting up a high-quality sprint showdown in the capital.
Sturgis, also competing in both events, believes such elite competition is exactly what she needs to elevate her performance this season.
“I like competing against Gabby, she pushes me beyond my limits, she has made me a better athlete by running faster and improving on my timings,” she said upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday.
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The American is targeting bold times in Nairobi, aiming for 10.09 seconds in the 100m and 22.00 seconds in the 200m as she looks to make an immediate impact on Kenyan soil.
She heads into the meet in solid form after competing at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where she finished second in the 200m and third in the 100m, signaling strong early-season momentum.
Her personal bests currently stand at 10.87 seconds in the 100m, set in 2022, and 22.12 seconds in the 200m, recorded in 2021, but she is clearly aiming to lower those marks in what is shaping up to be a competitive outing.
Despite it being her first time in Kenya, Sturgis has already embraced the experience, speaking warmly about the conditions and her early interactions with the local culture.
“It feels great. I'm already in love with the warm sunny weather that I'm enjoying now upon landing in the country. I have also been taught a bit of Swahili which I'm excited to speak. I think this is one of the many trips that I plan to take to learn and explore more about Kenya,” she added.
After the Nairobi meet, Sturgis will continue her 2026 campaign with stops in Botswana and South Africa as she builds momentum on the international circuit.