World Relays bronze medallist Mercy Oketch delivered a career-defining performance at the Absa Kip Keino Classic on Saturday evening, storming to victory in the women’s 400m final with a stunning personal best of 50.14 seconds at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The 25-year-old sprinter, fresh from clinching a bronze medal at the World Relays in Guangzhou earlier this month, showcased her growing dominance on the track, thrilling the home crowd as she crossed the finish line ahead of a stacked field.
Uganda’s All-African Games bronze medallist Leni Shida kept the contest tight, finishing second in an impressive personal best of 50.93 seconds, while Kenya’s Mercy Chebet, another World Relays bronze medallist, completed the podium in third, clocking 51.52 seconds, also a personal best.
Double Delight for Oketch
Oketch’s victory not only secured her the Kip Keino Classic title but also booked her a spot at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships in the individual 400m event.
She had already earned a ticket to Japan earlier this month as part of Kenya’s 4x400m Mixed Relay team, anchoring the squad to a historic bronze medal finish behind the United States and Australia.
A Journey of Inspiration
Oketch’s rise through the ranks has been nothing short of inspiring. She took up sprinting after watching Olympic bronze medallist and 800m world champion Mary Moraa win silver at the World Under-18 Championships held in Nairobi in 2017. The memory of that moment, coupled with her relentless work ethic, has seen her transition from a promising junior athlete to one of Kenya’s brightest sprinting prospects.
Before her Kip Keino Classic triumph, Oketch had already collected a silver medal at the Continental Military Games, where she clocked 55.43 seconds, showing steady progress throughout the season.
Kenya’s Sprinting Scene on the Rise
Saturday’s results reflected the growing strength of Kenya’s sprinting ranks, with multiple athletes registering personal bests in a single race.
The Kip Keino Classic, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, continues to be a platform for African sprinters to showcase their talent on the global stage.
As attention now turns to the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, Oketch will carry Kenyan hopes in the women’s 400m, eager to make a mark against the world’s elite.
