Ethan Katzberg in action at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Nairobi (© Kelly Ayodi)
It seems that rains usually come to bless a successful day, and it was the case at the Kip Keino Classic – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting – in Nairobi on Saturday (20). A warm day turned into a cool afternoon, and it only began to rain in the last event of the evening.
World champion Ethan Katzberg provided the highlight in the men’s hammer, throwing 84.38m – the farthest mark since 2008 – to move to ninth on the world all-time list.
All five of his valid throws surpassed the previous PB of 81.25m that he set to win the world title in Budapest last year. The Canadian 22-year-old opened with 81.25m, improved to 82.06m in the second round and then fouled the third. His fourth throw was 81.50m and then he launched the implement 84.38m on his fifth try before completing his series with 83.26m.
Mykhaylo Kokhan also threw beyond 80 metres, his best of 80.76m securing him second place ahead of Wojciech Nowicki (79.14m) and Pawel Fajdek (75.82m).
In the women’s hammer throw, USA’s world silver medallist Janee Kassanavoid won with her fifth-round 75.99m. She had gone into the contest as the athlete to watch, and on her second attempt she threw 74.22m to take the lead, moving Romania’s Bianca Ghelber to second place with her first throw of 73.38m. Beatrice Nedberge Llano of Norway was third after a 70.77m throw.
There was also great excitement in the 800m events, where winning performances by world champion Mary Moraa and world silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi delighted the home crowds.
There was dancing as usual after the women’s 800m. Paced by her sister Sarah Moraa, Mary Moraa went through the first 400m in around 56 seconds. She held the inside lane on the second lap and controlled the race, surging away down the home straight to finish in a meeting record of 1:57.96, as the crowds remained on their feet. Vivian Chebet Kiprotich was second in 1:58.26 and Nelly Jepkosgei third in 1:58.93, both PBs.
Also recording one of the many world-leading times of the day, Wanyonyi won a scintillating men’s 800m. Timothy Cheruiyot and Abel Kipsang had dropped down to meet Wanyonyi at his specialist distance and the latter showed them dust. He ran 1:43.57 to win ahead of Aaron Cheminingwa, the recently crowned African Games champion, who ran a personal best of 1:44.10. Ferguson Rotich ran 1:44.90 to complete the podium.
There was a fierce battle in the men’s 200m. USA’s Courtney Lindsey led off the bend but Botswana’s double world medallist Letsile Tebogo was determined to chase him down. He almost managed it but Lindsey had saved just enough to dip for the victory, winning in a world lead of 19.71 (-1.5m/s), a time matched by Tebogo.
It had just started raining as the 100m men were introduced to the expectant crowd. USA’s Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek won the shortest race of the day in 9.91 (2.2m/s) ahead of Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia (9.99) and Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain (10.00).
The Gambia’s Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye won the women’s 100m in 11.33 (-1.6m/s) ahead of Egypt’s Bassant Hemida (11.51) and USA’s Shannon Ray (11.53).
Botswana's Bayapo Ndori ran a world leading 44.10 to win the men’s 400m. USA’s Bryce Deadmon was second in 44.41 ahead of Botswana's Leungo Scotch in a personal best of 44.54. In fourth place, Kenya's Zablon Ekhal Ekwam was beside himself with an Olympic qualifying time and personal best of 44.69.
The men’s javelin marked the beginning of the main programme. A first throw of 81.74m put Latvia’s Gatis Cakss in the lead. Thomas Rohler’s 80.62m from his second attempt placed him second and Timothy Herman moved into third place with his fifth throw of 79.94m.
Before the track events began, a minute of silence was observed for Kenya’s Chief of the Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla, who died on Thursday in a helicopter crash in the North Rift of Kenya.
The men’s 10,000m followed. During an exciting final lap, Edwin Seko and Amos Lagat battled it out to the finish line, with Seko winning in 28:30.43 to Lagat’s 28:30.91.
Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo followed her world U20 cross country title win from last month with another victory, running 15:14.54 to win the 5000m. During the last two laps, the 16-year-old began to stretch the gap ahead of her compatriot Lemlem Nibret.
As Alemayo strode to the finish line, Kenya’s Margaret Kipkemboi overtook Nibret to finish second - 15:19.76 to 15:20.99.
In the last lap of the men’s 5000m, the duo of Kenya’s Levy Kibet and Charles Rotich could not match Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa’s strong finishing kick when the latter bolted away with about 200m to go. He won in a personal best of 13:34.77 as Kibet and Rotich followed in 13:38.39 and 13:39.16, respectively.
Kenya’s world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot ran 8:20.54 at the high altitude to emerge victorious in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. With two laps go, Amos Serem – the 2021 world U20 champion – overtook Kibiwot but the eventual winner hung just behind him and responded with a strong finishing kick. Serem was second in 8:21.40.
Stella Rutto of Romania won the women’s 3000m steeplechase in 9:39.57, ahead of Kenya’s Leah Jeruto in 9:39.94.
The men’s 1500m was topped by Reynold Cheruiyot, who ran 3:31.96. Brian Komen, who had fought shoulder to shoulder with Cheruiyot for the last 300m, finished second in a personal best time of 3:32.29.
Mary Ekiru took the women’s 1500m win in 4:06.26.
Amalie Iuel of Norway registered a world-leading time of 54.89 in the women’s 400m hurdles after overtaking Paulien Couckuyt of Belgium at the last hurdle. USA’s Bianca Stubler was third.
Kenya’s Wiseman Were Mukhobe set a meeting record of 48.57 to comfortably win the men’s 400m hurdles, a national event.
Michaela Hruba of Czechia jumped 1.90m to win the women’s high jump, beating Maja Nilsson of Sweden, who succeeded at the same height on her third attempt and was runner-up on countback. Elena Vallortigara jumped 1.86m for third place.
Justin Lagat for World Athletics
