Athletics

Jairus Birech rose to prominence as part of Kenya’s long line of world-class steeplechasers, dazzling fans with his speed and consistency during a golden spell between 2014 and 2015.

The decision comes after long-distance star Peres Jepchirchir, who won gold in the women’s marathon, returned home on an economy ticket, sparking criticism from Kenyans who felt she deserved better.

Kenya, meanwhile, took the spotlight through Cherotich, who stormed to gold in 8:51.59 to reclaim the title for her nation for the first time since 2019.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said Chepkorir had been flagged through her Athlete Biological Passport.

Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot also secured bronze in the men’s 1500m final.

Kipyegon's dominant run saw her finish 2.77 seconds clear of the field, extending her unbeaten streak in the 1,500m to 22 consecutive races over the past four years.

He unleashed a powerful sprint in the final 10 metres to edge Germany’s Amanal Petros, who also finished in 2:09.48, but had to settle for silver.

His win adds to the country’s medal tally in the Tokyo competition.

France's Jimmy Gressier stunned the field with a powerful sprint in the closing metres, winning gold in 28:55.77 — his country's first-ever world title in the event.

She also reflected on the upcoming 5,000m race, noting that she hopes to maintain her health and energy and aims to perform well.

In the women’s 1500m, Kenya showcased its depth and strength. World and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon cruised through her heat in 4:02.55 to advance with ease.

Faith Kipyegon stopped the clock at 3:48.68, trimming 0.36 seconds off her own record of 3:49.04 set in Paris on July 7, 2024.

The team of Brian Tinega, Mercy Adongo, Allan Kipyego, and world 800m champion Mary Moraa lit up Heat 2 with a blistering 3:10.73, finishing second behind Belgium and momentarily securing a place in the final.

The Montreal-based watchdog announced on September 11 that its Executive Committee had acted on the recommendation of the Compliance Review Committee, citing “critical requirements” that remain unaddressed following a May 2024 audit.

More than 2,000 athletes from nearly 200 nations are competing for 147 medals across 49 events, transforming Tokyo’s National Stadium into the epicenter of global athletics.

The decision, made public on Thursday, comes after temperatures in the Japanese capital reached 33°C this week.

The squad is headlined by Olympic and world champion Faith Kipyegon, who will double up in the women’s 1,500m and 5,000m, and Beatrice Chebet, who leads Kenya’s charge in the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m.

Omanyala announced the decision on Monday in a statement on X, ending hopes of a much-anticipated showdown with some of the world's best sprinters, including Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo, among other sprinters.

Ngetich, running solo for much of the race, stormed to 14:24.99, six seconds clear of Ethiopians Likina Amebaw (14:31.51) and Aleshign Baweke (14:31.88). Spain’s Marta Garcia placed fifth in a new national record of 14:33.40.

The Kenyan superstar stopped the clock at 8:07.04, the second-fastest time in history, just 0.93 seconds shy of the world mark of 8:06.11 set by China’s Wang Junxia back in 1993.

The Commonwealth champion clocked 10.03 seconds with a slight tailwind of +0.5 m/s, finishing ahead of Ivory Coast’s Arthur Cissé, who ran a season’s best of 10.13 seconds, and South Africa’s Retshidisitswe Mlenga, who crossed the line in 10.14 seconds.

Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic commonly used to treat conditions such as oedema, is banned as it can be used as a masking agent to hide the presence of other prohibited substances.

Susan Ejore is set to represent Kenya at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after finishing second in the women’s 1500 metres final at the national trials in Nairobi, capping off a breakthrough season for the U.S.-based athlete.

Kenya has named a 58-member squad for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, even as a fresh wave of doping cases threatens to overshadow preparations.

Tuwei announced that the team would immediately begin residential training at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, as Nairobi prepares to host the African Nations Championships (CHAN) from August 2 to 30.

Chepng'etich clocked an impressive 30:27.02 to finish ahead of world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Agnes Ng'etich, who posted 30:27.38, and double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, who came in third at 30:27.52.

Kipchoge made his World Championships debut in 2003 in Paris, stunning the world with a gold medal in the 5,000m at just 18 years old.

Maluki secured 15 votes, defeating his only opponent, former secretary general Francis Mutuku, who garnered 12 votes.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Phanuel Koech Kipkosgei delivered standout performances at the London Diamond League, each setting meet records as Kenyan athletes impressed on a thrilling night of athletics on Saturday.

Kenyan marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit after testing positive for Hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic. The AIU confirmed that a urine sample collected in March returned a result significantly above the allowable limit.

Team Kenya will head to Abeokuta, Nigeria, this week for the Africa U18 and U20 Athletics Championships, with confidence high and medal ambitions clear after a well-organised send-off at Kasarani.

Kenyan athletes lit up the Monaco Diamond League on Friday night, with Emmanuel Wanyonyi setting a world lead and meeting record in the 800m, Nelly Chepchirchir becoming the fourth-fastest woman ever over 1000m, and teenager Edmund Serem securing a podium finish in the steeplechase.

Kenyan athletes lit up the Monaco Diamond League with a string of standout performances, as Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Nelly Chepchirchir delivered record-breaking wins in one of the most thrilling meets of the season.

Kenya’s rising stars take centre stage at the Monaco Diamond League tonight, with 17-year-old Edmund Serem set to headline the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. He leads a formidable Kenyan contingent, including Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Mary Moraa, Nelly Chepchirchir, and Jacob Krop, all chasing strong performances on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Kenya’s top athletes, including world record holders Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, have urged the government to urgently renovate training facilities, warning that poor infrastructure is hampering their performance on the global stage.

Kipyegon, 31, shattered her own women's 1,500m world record with a time of 3:48.68, while Chebet, 25, became the first woman in history to run the 5,000m in under 14 minutes, clocking 13:58.06.

Faith Kipyegon reclaimed the 1500m world record in emphatic style at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, leading a remarkable night for Kenyan athletes that also saw Beatrice Chebet and Faith Cherotich post historic times in the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The duo each walked away with Sh3.5 million in prize money with runners-up receiving Sh2.25 million and third-place athletes taking home Sh1.5 million.

Beatrice Chebet is set for a high-stakes showdown with 5,000m world record holder Gudaf Tsegay at the 50th Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, which will also serve as Kenya’s trials for the 5,000m and 10,000m women’s teams to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Faith Kipyegon delivered the fastest mile ever run by a woman on Thursday night in Paris, clocking 4:06.42 during a Nike-organised exhibition event. Though she missed the elusive sub-four-minute mark, the performance broke her own world record and reaffirmed her place at the pinnacle of middle-distance running.

Faith Kipyegon is aiming to make history once again — this time by becoming the first woman to run a sub-4-minute mile. The Olympic champion will take on the ambitious challenge on Thursday night in Paris, in a special Nike-organised time trial dubbed Breaking4.

Faith Cherotich stormed to a world-leading 8:53.37 in the steeplechase at the Paris Diamond League, headlining a strong evening for Kenya that also saw Nelly Chepchirchir win the 1500m and Phanuel Koech break the World U20 record in the same event.

Nine Kenyan athletes are in action tonight at the Paris leg of the 2025 Diamond League, with Faith Cherotich, Nelly Chepchirchir, and Julius Yego among the headliners looking to deliver standout performances.

Kenya will host the final of the 2024 CHAN at Kasarani Stadium on 30 August 2025, as CAF confirmed venues and group allocations for the East Africa-led tournament.

Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a blistering world-leading 1:41.95 to win the men’s 800m at the Stockholm Diamond League, while Mary Moraa, racing on her 25th birthday, was edged into second in a dramatic women's 800m finish.

Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered commanding victories at the Oslo Diamond League, providing bright moments for Kenya on a night where others faltered. While Kenya's 5,000m hopes faded, these two rising stars made their mark with record-breaking performances.

Kenyan middle-distance runner Eliud Kipsang, who once held a US university athletics record in the 1,500 metres, has died at the age of 28. Kipsang passed away in Washington, USA, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Kenyan distance runner Daniel Kinyanjui has received a five-year doping ban after testing positive for a banned blood-boosting agent, while fellow countryman Benard Koech faces provisional suspension over suspicious biological passport data. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) also confirmed sanctions against athletes from Mexico and Croatia in its latest crackdown on anti-doping violations.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri returned to winning ways on Saturday, edging out a strong field to claim victory at the Mastercard New York Mini 10-K. The double Olympic silver medallist clocked 30:44, narrowly holding off American Weini Kelati, who set a new US road 10K record in a thrilling finish.