Athletics

Three years ago, Luvo Manyonga knew he must change his life or perish. In Poland on Sunday, 22 March, the former world champion makes an extraordinary return to athletics’ top table.Sprawled prone in the dirt, the cold metal of a baseball bat cracking against his skull, spine and down to the legs, that had once propelled him to glory, Manyonga experienced an epiphany. This existence could not continue; he must change his life or die.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsManyonga had been a drug addict for as long as he could remember, seeking recreational highs that provided the opposite of the performance-enhancing shortcuts that some of his deceitful athletics rivals might have pursued.At times, he just about kept his habit in check. Never for long periods-not even when at his sporting peak. But enough for him to win South Africa’s first world long jump title in London in 2017, a year after he had claimed Olympic silver in Rio.Road to chaos: Guinea demands 1976 AFCON tittle on bas..

Team Kenya continued its quest for medals at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland with three athletes advancing to the finals of their respective events on Friday, 20 March night.After a morning session of mixed results, the evening period started on a good note for the lean Kenyan squad as Susan Ejore stepped on the track, competing in heat two of the women’s 1500m.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe American-based runner clocked 4:11.41 for third place, securing her spot in Sunday’s, 22 March, final.Ejore trailed Ethiopian Birke Haylom in the opening laps of the highly contested race, at one point coming to her shoulder, but could not hold on to her pace and she was overtaken on the line by home runner Klaudia Kazimierska who came second in 4:11.33 as the Ethiopian won the heat in 4:10.66.“It was a packed race with some very good girls, but I went in there and executed my plan,” Ejore said, adding that she was looking forward to making it t..

The 2026 Kipkeino Classic is set to break new ground after organizers confirmed that this year’s edition will, for the first time, be staged under floodlights. The meet is scheduled for Friday, April 24 at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe announcement, made on the event’s official social media platforms, has already sparked excitement among athletics fans.“Night vibes, world-class speed. Kipkeino Classic under the lights will be next level,” the statement read.Unlike previous editions, the 2026 event will run from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, culminating in an electric night atmosphere expected to elevate both performance and fan engagement. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9612966##Night competitions are often associated with cooler temperatures and faster times, raising expectations for thrilling races on Kenyan soil.The return to Nyayo Stadium also marks a homecoming of sorts for the event. The 18,000-seater venue hosted the inaugural Kipkeino Classic in 2020 before the mee..

Kenya enjoyed a bright start to the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland after seeing three of its athletes qualify to the semifinals of their respective events on Friday, 20 March.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsAll running in the morning session of the championships’ opening day, the trio of Noah Kibet, Mercy Adongo and Brian Tinega made sure Kenya remained in the hunt for an elusive medal, by breezing through their heats with relative ease.##NAJAVA_MECA_9612928##400m national champion Adongo was the first Kenyan to book her slot in the semifinals when she came second in Heat Six of the women’s 400m, timing a hugely impressive 51.57, which fell just four hundredths of a second behind her personal best time of 51.53 she set in February at the Meeting Metz Moselle in France.The 23-year-old will now seek to go a step further at the championships when she lines up in Heat One of the semifinals scheduled for Friday night (9:42 PM).Our one and only C..

Former Kenya Sevens stalwart Humphrey Kayange has secured one of the most prestigious roles in global sport after being elected Second Vice-Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsKayange was voted into the position during the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) meeting in Milan, Italy, joining a new leadership team that will guide the commission through to the Los Angles 2028 Olympic Games.Spain’s Pau Gasol was elected Chair, Poland’s Maja Włoszczowska retained her role as First Vice-Chair, while Canada’s Oluseyi Smith will occupy the newly created Third Vice-Chair position.Harambee Stars winger pens new deal at Real Sociedad after historic La Liga breakthroughThe new team takes over from outgoing Chair Emma Terho, who made history as the longest-serving female Chair of the Commission.For Kayange, the elevation marks another significant milestone in his steady rise within the Olympic Movement. The former Kenya rugby se..

Gladys Kwamboka, the 2024 Africa and national 10,000m champion, stamped her authority with a commanding long-distance double, winning both the 10,000m and 5,000m titles in dominant fashion at the Mombasa Athletic Meet held on Saturday, 21 February in Shanzu.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe 29-year-old first secured victory in the women’s 10,000m, clocking 33:39.5 in a tactical race, with a strong kick in the final stretch to finish ahead of Brenda Jepchumba Kenei (33:34.0) and Kadogo Jematian (33:44.16).Eliud Kipchoge’s coach explains why cross country is crucial for athletesShe later returned to the track to claim the women’s 5,000m crown in 16:07.2, narrowly edging Celestine Biwott by just 0.4 seconds in one of the closest finishes of the day, with Jematian (16:10.5) sealing the podium.Speaking after her triumph, Kwamboka said: “I have been working so that I could come and take part, but I did not get the chance before in the season because I have been engaged at work. ##..

This year’s Haspa Marathon Hamburg will feature a strong international men’s field headlined by two-time champion Bernard Koech when the event is staged for the 40th time on 26 April.Koech returns, since his victory in 2024, as the favorite on paper, but the Kenyan will not be the only one who comes back with great memories.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsHe is joined on the field by Stephen Kissa, who ran a national record on the same field, and the Ugandan will be among the strong favourites as will be Germany’s former national record holder Samuel Fitwi, who could produce a strong performance and cause a surprise.“We are looking forward to another thrilling race. Hopefully, we will get very fast times again and are able to continue our recent success story of recording the best results of all German top marathon races, as was the case in 2025, a reflection of the strong development of the event in the past couple of years,” said chief organizer Frank Thaleiser.Story of Mara..

Organisers of the New York City Marathon recently visited Kenya in a tour designed to honour past champions and strengthen ties with the country that has shaped the race’s history.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe delegation paid a courtesy call to former winners, among them Ibrahim Hussein, who made history as the first Kenyan to win the New York City Marathon.His breakthrough victory marked the beginning of Kenya’s dominance in one of the world’s most prestigious road races and inspired generations of runners who would follow in his footsteps.Fast-rising Gout Gout sets another 100m record in AustraliaKenyan athletes have played a dominant role in the New York City Marathon, particularly over the past two decades.Champions such as: Geoffrey Mutai, Wilson Kipsang, Stanley Biwott, Geoffrey Kamworor, Albert Korir, Evans Chebet, and Benson Kipruto have carried the men’s title back home in recent years.On the women’s side, Tegla Loroupe broke barriers in 1994 as the first Africa..

Kenyan long-distance runner Caroline Gitonga on Sunday, 22 February, moved inside the top 10 of the world all-time list in the women’s 10 kilometers road running, after setting a new personal best in Spain.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsGitonga, twin sister to another Kenyan athlete, Purity, won this year’s 10K Facsa Castellón in a time of 29:34, to move into ninth spot on the world all-time list.By doing so, the 29-year-old, who was taking part in her first race of 2026, also took seconds off her previous personal best in the distance – 30:46, which she set during last year’s edition of the World Athletics Label road race.Caroline Gitonga 🇰🇪🇰🇪 wins after running a 29.34 at the 10k FACSA Castellón. Congratulations 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Caro 😍😍!#running #kenya #sports #athleticskenya pic.twitter.com/o0SvYGv7HW— Evangeline Mukua. (@mukua_karimi) February 22, 2026 Caroline won by 11 seconds ahead of her compatriot Nelvin Jepkemboi, who came second in 29:45, with Ethiopia’s Chaltu Dida third ..

The 2026 edition of the Kip Keino Classic could make a return to Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, 24 April, as organizers push for a bigger and more electrifying showpiece.Last year’s event was staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex due to renovation works at both Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums. Follow our WhatsApp channel for newsHowever, Athletics Kenya Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir has revealed that discussions are at an advanced stage to confirm Nyayo as the venue for this year’s World Continental Tour Gold meeting.“Today at the Nyayo National Stadium, I met with Sports Stadia Director General Mr. Timothy Kilimo, Julius, Diana, and Jimmy as we work on confirming the venue for the Kip Keino Classic on April 24. The chances are very high that we’ll host it here,” Korir shared on X.##NAJAVA_MECA_9536847##He added that preparations are already in full swing to ensure the meet delivers a world-class experience.“We are now working full throttle as a federation with the government a..