Why Mercy Chebet is confident of faster time at Kip Keino Classic
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 20.04.26. | 16:06
Beyond individual ambitions, Chebet is also focused on team success as Kenya prepares for a busy period that includes the World Relays and the Africa Championships
Mercy Chebet believes she is on the cusp of a breakthrough performance as she builds momentum ahead of a packed 2026 international schedule. The Kenyan quarter-miler is targeting a faster time at the upcoming Kip Keino Classic.
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Chebet heads into the meet buoyed by an impressive showing at the national trials for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships, where she showed her dominance in the women’s 400m.
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She cruised through the semifinal in 52.99 before stepping up in the final to clock 51.94, finishing well ahead of her closest challengers. Shida Leni settled for second in 52.86 while Hellen Syombua completed the podium in 53.91.
Her strong form earned her a spot on the Kenyan team alongside Syombua and Maureen Nanjala for the continental championships set for Tuesday, 12 to Sunday, 17 April at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.
However, before shifting focus to the continental stage, Chebet will test herself against a competitive field at the Kip Keino Classic on Friday, 24 April at the Nyayo National Stadium. It is here that she hopes to lower her time even further.
“My goal at the Kip Keino Classic is to run between 50.9 and 51 seconds. It’s a World Athletics event, and I want to use it to improve my personal best,” she noted.
At the Kip Keino Classic, Chebet will also come up against Paris Peoples, an accomplished American quarter-miler with an impressive collegiate résumé.
Peoples is a two-time first-team NCAA All-America honoree across indoor and outdoor competitions, and was part of the team that won bronze in the 4x400m relay at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships.
She also claimed silver in the same event at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships, in addition to winning gold at both the 2019 SEC Outdoor Championships in the 4x400m relay and the SEC Indoor Championships in the distance medley relay.
“The body has responded well this season. I’ve had a strong start, and I believe I can hit the 50-second mark by June. I performed well during the trials, and that has really boosted my confidence,” Chebet said.
Her optimism is not without reason. Over the weekend, she posted a personal best of 51.38 to finish second at the inaugural Addis Ababa Grand Prix.
Beyond individual ambitions, Chebet is also focused on team success as Kenya prepares for a busy period that includes the World Relays and the Africa Championships.
“Looking ahead to Ghana, I believe we will deliver as a country. Before that, we have the World Relays, where I’m expecting strong performances and hopefully a medal,” she added.
Despite her rising profile on the track, Chebet continues to juggle academic responsibilities alongside elite competition, a balancing act she admits has been challenging but manageable.
“The main challenge has been balancing school with training and competition, but I’m handling it well,” she said.