New stars emerge as curtains fall on 7th Kip Keino Classic

Rising star Kevin Chesang raced to the men’s 10,000m title at this year's edition of the Kip Keino Classic, after clocking an impressive 28:31.50 to cross the line first in a tightly contested national event.

Held at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, 24 April and concluding under the Nairobi lights, on a night that the skies held off to give the global champions who had gathered at the 18,000-seater facility a chance to entertain the Kenyan fanbase, the day was filled with phenomenal performances throughout the day.

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In a loaded race, the 20-year-old held his own to win ahead of Kipkandie Mkulia who came home in 28:36.37 and Kiboino Charles who closed the podium places in 28:37.81.

Chesang’s victory marks another significant milestone in what has been a rapid rise through the ranks after an impressive show at the national cross country championship for second place.

“The field was competitive but all along I was determined to win. Training in a high camp field in Eldama Ravine enabled me embrace today’s conditions and I am very happy for the win,” he said.

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Meanwhile, fresh from winning the 10,000m final at the Kenyan trials for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships a fortnight ago, Diana Wanza continued to prove that was no fluke as she destroyed the field to win the women's 5,000m race.

Coming into the race with a 15:52.04 personal best (PB), Wanza made the deep field and competitive race count as she clocked a new best time in the distance, winning in 15:28.91 to finish ahead of Mercy Chepkemoi who crossed the finish line in 15:49.85 as Dorcus Chepkwemoi completed the podium places in 15:55.29.

Wanza, who will lead Kenya's charge at the African championships in 10,000m, dropped the field with six laps to go and never relented. She says this was part of her preparations for the continental showpiece set for 12 to 17 May in Ghana.

"I really want to thank the fans for this performance. Every cheer pushed me even when I was alone at the front. This is a good sign as we head to Ghana. It shows I have good speed. The title shall come to Kenya with good preparations," Wanza offered.

The men's 5000m title went to Cornelius Kemboi who held off stiff competition from a loaded field to win in 13:09.31. Frankline Kibet settled for second place in a new PB of 13:10.70 while former World bronze medalist Jacob Krop was third in 13:13.59.

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Elsewhere, in the women's 3000m steeplechase, Joyce Biwot produced a massive result, dipping under the ten-minute mark as she improved her PB from 10:21.12 to win in a new best time of 9:55.26.

She held off stiff competition from 9:27.64 runner, Ethiopia's Daba Zeritu who timed 9:57.27 for second place, a season best. Another Kenyan, Mercy Chepngeno dropped a 9:58.40 PB for third place.

In the men's steeplechase, Ethiopian star Gemechu Godana stunned big shots to claim victory in a new meeting record of 8:14.55. The previous mark (8:17.60) was set by Olympic bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott in the inaugural edition in 2020.

The Ethiopian appeared to have tactically reserved energy for the last 200m, unleashing a kick that left African bronze medalist Simon Koech in the dust for a 8:15.71 second place finish.

“I'm happy for the win on my second appearance here in Kenya. Beating Kenyans on their home soil made it special. I'm sure we shall meet at the Africa Championships and I want to promise that I will win again,” the Ethiopian offered.

Former World U20 silver medalist Leonard Bett sealed the podium places in 8:25.06, denying World bronze medalist Edmund Serem a podium place while Milkesa Fikadu and Kibiwott sealed the top five places.

In the field events, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the men's javelin event in a new meet record after hauling a monstrous 89.28m on his second attempt, breaking Belgian Timothy Herman's previous record of 87.35m set in 2023.

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"This was my first gold-level event, and I'm happy for the warm welcome I received. Coming here as a world leader, I just wanted to prove myself and compete alongside my mentors, Julius Yego and Thomas Roehler," said Tharanga.

The 2016 Olympic champion, Roehler of Germany, finished second with a throw of 83.33m, with South African Douw Smit completing the podium places with a season's best mark of 81.19m. Former world champion, Yego, finished fourth after hauling 79.87m.