The Kip Keino Classic once again delivered high-stakes drama as Ethiopia’s Nigist Gatechew secured a stunning victory in the women’s 800m, upsetting the local favorite and reigning champion Lilian Odira. Held at the Nyayo National Stadium, the race was expected to be a victory lap for Odira, but Gatechew—the 2025 World Indoor silver medalist—overturned the script in the final meters to claim the top spot on the podium.
From the starting gun, Odira set a blistering pace, utilizing her familiarity with the Nairobi altitude and the energy of the home crowd to dominate the first lap. She crossed the 400m mark in a swift 56.47 seconds, signaling her intent to run a fast time. While Odira maintained her lead for much of the race, Gatechew remained tucked closely behind, shadowing her every move and waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
The complexion of the race shifted dramatically as the athletes hit the final 200 meters. Gatechew unleashed a powerful sprint, finding an extra gear that Odira could not match in the closing stretch. The Ethiopian star crossed the finish line in 1:58.79, cementing her status as a major contender for the 2026 season and silencing the home crowd with her tactical precision.
Despite the disappointment of losing her title, Odira remained optimistic about her performance. Finishing second with a season-best time of 1:59.15, she viewed the result as a stepping stone for the rest of the year. “Running sub-two in the first race this season signals a better season ahead,” Odira remarked. “My coach has noted the mistakes, and we will work on them. I have a long season ahead and look forward to running even faster times.”
The success for the Ethiopian contingent was further bolstered by Habtam Gebeyehu, who took third place with a career-best time of 1:59.72. This strong showing highlighted the depth of Ethiopia’s middle-distance talent, as they secured two of the three podium positions in a highly competitive field.
While the women’s crown moved across the border to Ethiopia, the Kenyan men ensured the home crowd had plenty to celebrate in their 800m event. Kelvin Kimtai Loti claimed victory with a dominant time of 1:43.63, followed by Alex Ng’eno in 1:44.12 and Noah Kibet, who clocked a personal best of 1:44.44 for third place. The clean sweep provided a measure of redemption for the host nation after the narrow loss in the women’s race.
