Athletics

Kenya’s Zablon Chumba and Ethiopia’s Abebech Afework headline a busy racing weekend as they return to defend last year’s titles at the EDP Lisbon Marathon set for Saturday, 10 October.Facing fierce competition in their bid for back-to-back victories, the duo is just part of a storied event, with the marathon part of a massive running weekend that also includes the Hyundai Half Marathon and the EDP 8K set for Sunday, 11 October.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsMen’s defending champion, Chumba, carries not just knowledge of the course and a winning pedigree but is one of seven athletes boasting personal bests (PBs) under 2:08. ##NAJAVA_MECA_10010062##His 2:07:11, dating back to October last year at this same race, is not the fastest on paper, but puts a target on his back as he goes up against stronger opposition.The standout contenders include fellow Kenyans Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo, whose PB of 2:04:56 dates back to 2012. He has raced once this year, clocking 2:13:16 for third..

Athletics Kenya (AK) is using the ongoing renovations at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a strategic opportunity to address the stadium’s shortcomings and prepare it for the 2029 World Athletics Championships.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe move is aimed at avoiding duplication of work and costs by ensuring that upgrades being undertaken for AFCON 2027 also meet the more demanding technical requirements of World Athletics.World Athletics awarded Nairobi the hosting rights for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, marking a historic moment for Kenya and Africa. The championships will feature 49 track and field events and bring thousands of athletes, officials and fans to the country.But Kenya’s successful bid was built partly on lessons learned from its unsuccessful attempt to host the 2025 World Championships.##NAJAVA_MECA_10011836##During the 2025 bidding process, an evaluation of Kenya’s bid identifie..

World 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi is promising more fireworks after an outstanding 2026 season that saw him stamp his authority on the one-lap race.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe 22-year-old has been virtually unstoppable this year, winning all six of his Diamond League races before lowering his national record to 43.40 at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.He saved his biggest statement for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where he unleashed an explosive front-running display to win the 400m in 43.39, breaking his national record once again.Cheboi aiming to spark past memories in Toronto marathon returnThe victory earned Kebinatshipi the Ultimate Championship title and $150,000 (approximately Ksh19.5 million), but more importantly, it reinforced his belief that he is only getting started.“Trust me, this was just the start of an era of Collen. My plan is just to dominate for the longest period possible,” Kebinatshipi told World Athletics.H..

Kenya secured double victory at the 2026 Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, 4 October, after Joyciline Jepkosgei and Gideon Kiprotich took wins in the Welsh capital.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsJepkosgei, the standout entry on the start list this year, set a course record while at it, cutting the tape in 1:05.40, to take 12 seconds off Edith Chelimo’s course record, which had stood since 2017.##NAJAVA_MECA_10003031##Kiprotich, on the other hand, fought off 2025 champion Yismaw Dillu, to storm to victory in 59:34.“I’m so grateful and happy to win this race,” 32-year-old Jepkosgei said after her win. “It was a tough course, but I kept fighting so I’m happy to get the victory here. I enjoyed it out there but there were some hills, especially near the end, which made it tough, but coming down the last straight and getting the win was special. Kenyan athletes reign supreme in Kuala Lumpur MarathonThe crowds were some of the most excited I have seen, and they were across the who..

Kenya on Sunday, 4 October welcomed the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, as he kicked off a high-level two-day visit focused on strengthening the country’s anti-doping programme, and advancing the commitment to clean, fair and credible sport.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsPresident Bańka was received by Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, ADAK Board Chairman Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Aphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, Ag. CEO Peninah Wahome, WADA Africa Director Rodney Swigelaar, rugby legend and clean sport champion Humphrey Kayange, and Christine Mugera of the Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO), among other officials and stakeholders.Over the next two days, the WADA President is expected to engage senior government officials and key sporting stakeholders, all in a bid to reinforce the country’s anti-doping framework, and cement its position as a credible and dependable global partner in advancing clean sport.Former world silver medalist eyeing Istan..

Former World Championships silver medalist Judith Korir is set to face off with defending champion Bizuager Aderra, as 2024 men’s winner Dejene Debela returns at this year’s Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon set for Sunday, 1 November.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe Gold Label Road Race of World Athletics is the world’s only inter-continental marathon leading the runners from the Asian side over the July 15 Martyrs Bridge and into Europe before finishing in Istanbul’s old historic city centre next to the Blue Mosque.The women’s field sets the stage for some fascinating battles for victory, as was the case again last year. Four women were still in contention on the last kilometre, with youngster Aderra taking the honours.Sebastian Sawe reveals the athlete he backs to break the women’s marathon world recordThere was double joy for the Ethiopian since she did indeed manage to run a personal best (PB) improving by over two minutes to 2:26:19. “This was the biggest win of ..

As a young girl, Naomi Korir sang in church and played the keyboard, convinced that music was a more likely career than athletics.Not because she had no passion in running, but a condition she was born with had her convinced that running might be a dream far beyond her reach.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe 28-year-old was born with fistula, a medical condition in which abnormal openings develop between organs, and can lead to uncontrolled leakage of urine or faeces.This forced her to rethink any plans to be in any sport, despite participating in various discipline like football, netball, and athletics.”It was difficult because of the training while urine is flowing continuously. It’s bad. I reduced my running to shorter distances to control the leaking. I began doing 100m hurdles,” she told BBC Africa.Sabastian Sawe reveals the athlete he backs to break the women’s marathon world recordDespite the challenges, Korir’s love of sport also offered a form of escape and belong..

World marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe has thrown his weight behind Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa to break the women’s world record in the near future.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsSawe, speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview this week, lauded Assefa’s mentality as one of the reasons the 29-year-old would stand atop the women’s marathon record books, usurping the current fastest time of 2:09.56, held by Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich since October 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_9994821##”For sure she will because Tigst is a very strong woman, and her mentality is something else,” Sawe said, when asked of Assefa’s capability to chase down the world mark. “She always has the courage to push her limits. She’s always been a winner.”Sawe’s comments came just after the Ethiopian had claimed her third Berlin marathon victory on Sunday, 27 September, when she streaked clear to win in a time of 2:11.04.Omanyala explains opening sprints club in St Joseph’s Boys KitaleRecounting Assefa’s vic..

World marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe has thrown his weight behind Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa to break the women’s world record in the near future.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsSawe, speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview this week, lauded Assefa’s mentality as one of the reasons the 29-year-old would stand atop the women’s marathon record books, usurping the current fastest time of 2:09.56, held by Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich since October 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_9994821##”For sure she will because Tigst is a very strong woman, and her mentality is something else,” Sawe said, when asked of Assefa’s capability to chase down the world mark. “She always has the courage to push her limits. She’s always been a winner.”Sawe’s comments came just after the Ethiopian had claimed her third Berlin marathon victory on Sunday, 27 September, when she streaked clear to win in a time of 2:11.04.Omanyala explains opening sprints club in St Joseph’s Boys KitaleRecounting Assefa’s vic..

Friends School Kamusinga is laying the groundwork for the next generation of sprinters, with the institution’s administration determined to build on the legacy of its celebrated alumnus Ferdinand Omanyala.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsOmanyala, an alumnus of the Bungoma-based school, has gone on to become Africa’s fastest man and one of Kenya’s most accomplished sprinters. His rise has inspired Kamusinga to strengthen its athletics programme and create a pathway for more young athletes to follow in his footsteps.The Kenyan sprinter made history by winning the 100m gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, becoming the first Kenyan in 60 years to win the men’s 100m title at the Games. ##NAJAVA_MECA_994821##He was also crowned African champion in the 100m in 2022 and has dominated the Kenyan national championships.Omanyala holds the African 100m record of 9.77 seconds, set in Nairobi in September 2021, as well as the African and Kenyan 150m record of 14.70 se..