Yego reveals progress ahead of African title defense

At 37, 2015 World javelin champion Julius Yego seems to be slowing down and slowly transitioning into mentorship, but he is not done competing yet.

The five-time African champion was in action at Nyayo National Stadium for the seventh edition of the annual Kip Keino Classic, opening his season with a 79.87m throw and settling for fourth.

Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news

Competing against a stacked field, the former Olympic silver medalist finished behind winner Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage who set 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.

The 23-year-old says he came to Nairobi wanting to prove himself, being the world leader, and to compete alongside his mentors Yego and Thomas Roehler.

2016 Olympic champion Roehler of Germany, finished second with a throw of 83.33m while South African Douw Smit completed the podium places with a season's best mark of 81.19m.

“I wanted more than 79 metres, but that’s what came todaay, but I’m really excited,” said Yego despite missing out on the podium.

He continued, "My rhythm is not yet where I need it to be, and javelin is all about that, especially in the run-up. I think experience worked today (Kip Keino Classic), because my rhythm is still poor. I need to work on it before my next competition."

The focus for the former Commonwealth and African Games champion is on winning his sixth consecutive African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana when the showpiece runs from 12 to 17 May, an event he hints might be his last on the continental front.

“I want to retain the title," he admits. "Perhaps it will be the last African Championship for me. I want to go there, enjoy the competition, and take the gold.”

Yego was getting back in action since his sixth-place finish in last year's World Athletics Championship after exiting the competition in the final due to injury, having managed a 85.54m throw in his second attempt. He was in his best form last season, after struggling with injuries since winning silver at the Rio Olympics, and seems to have picked from there.

Kip Keino Classic: Wanyonyi shines as Kenyans dominate men's 1,500m