Former African double champion Hailemaryam Amare delivered a brilliant display of tactical running to claim victory in the men’s 5000m at the 2025 Kip Keino Classic, held on Saturday afternoon at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Amare, representing Ethiopia, clocked 13:34.02 to secure a dramatic and hard-fought win, edging out compatriot Tadesse Zenebe Ayele, who posted a season-best 13:34.86 in a pulsating sprint finish. Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka Mburu completed the podium in 13:38.17, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The race was a masterclass in patience and strategy from Amare. Nine runners battled tightly in a large pack for most of the race from the start. The pacemaker kept the tempo steady through the opening laps, with no clear leader emerging as the field approached halfway.
Kenya’s Charles Rotich assumed control during the middle stages, momentarily setting the pace before fading after Andrew Kiptoo withdrew from the contest.
With two laps remaining, Mburu made a bold move, surging ahead and attempting to break the field. But the Ethiopian pair of Amare and Ayele responded swiftly, closing the gap as the race reached its crescendo.
Mburu clung to a slender lead at the bell but lost it quickly. On the back straight, Amare and Ayele powered past the Kenyan, turning the closing stages into an electrifying all-Ethiopian showdown.
In the final 100 meters, Amare shifted into top gear, pulling away from his compatriot to clinch his first major international win in style, with the roaring Nairobi crowd witnessing an enthralling tactical battle.
The win caps off a memorable afternoon at the Kip Keino Classic, as Nairobi once again played host to some of Africa’s finest middle and long-distance talent.
