Athletics

Kenyan athletes stole the spotlight at the 2025 Diamond League opener in Doha, with Reynold Cheruiyot, Nelly Chepchirchir and Faith Cherotich each producing stunning victories in their respective races under the floodlights at Qatar Sports Club.

Kenya’s 4x100m men’s relay team has qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after a strong performance in the second round of the World Relay Championships in China.

Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa lit up the 2025 London Marathon with commanding victories in the men’s and women’s races respectively. Sawe stormed to a stunning debut win while Assefa shattered the women’s only marathon record, capping off a historic day on the streets of London.

Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet stole the show at the 2025 Xiamen Diamond League with record-breaking performances on Saturday, while Ferdinand Omanyala finished second in a highly competitive men's 100 metres final.

Kenya’s top athletes are set to launch their 2025 season at the Wanda Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China, on Saturday, 26 April. With the Diamond League Final and World Championships on the horizon, the meeting marks an important first step for stars like Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Ferdinand Omanyala.

Full details are yet to be revealed but, as with her compatriot's 1:59:40.2 marathon in Vienna in 2019, she is likely to be aided by "in and out" pacers, new high-tech shoes and kit and other technological, physiological and psychological help that will mean any record would not be officially recognised.

Obiri, who was eyeing a historic three-peat, finished second with a time of 2:17:41, her personal best time in the marathon.

Korir emulated his elder brother, former Cherang'any MP Wesley Korir, by winning the 2025 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:04:45.

Hellen Obiri will bid to become the first Kenyan woman to win three Boston Marathons in a row after picking up bronze at the Paris Games and finishing second in New York last year.

The event did not officially allow women to compete until 1972, though female runners had unofficially participated beginning in 1966 despite breaching the rules of the Amateur Athletic Union.

Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet were the biggest winners at the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Awards, held Thursday night at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

Geoffrey Kamworor and Jackline Cherono led Kenya’s charge at the 2025 Rotterdam Marathon, while Bernard Biwott impressed with a personal best to win in Paris, ending Ethiopia’s recent dominance.

The event highlighted rising stars and experienced runners, showing the strength and talent in global athletics.

Misoi provided a urine sample during an out-of-competition test on November 22, 2024, in Kaptagat, where Furosemide was initially detected.

Coe confirmed that World Athletics would implement a one-time cheek swab or dry blood test, which he described as non-invasive, in an effort to ensure fairness in women’s competition.

Born in 1983 in Harare, Zimbabwe, Coventry is the most decorated African Olympian, having won multiple Olympic medals and broken several world records.

Coventry, who is also Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport, Art, and Recreation, also became the first African to hold the prestigious position after winning the elections held in Costa Navarino (Greece).

Former world half-marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie has been provisionally suspended for “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection,” the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has confirmed. The 28-year-old Kenyan, who set the world record in 2020, now faces an uncertain future as investigations continue.

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed his participation in the 2025 Sydney Marathon, set for August 31. The race, now an official World Marathon Major (WMM), will be Kipchoge’s first in Oceania. His inclusion is expected to raise the event’s global profile as he seeks to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season.

Ferdinand Omanyala marked his return to international competition with a third-place finish at the ASA Grand Prix in Pretoria, clocking 10.22 seconds in a tightly contested 100m race. His compatriot, Mark Otieno, finished fourth as South Africa’s Karabo Letebele took victory in a photo finish.

Six athletics gold medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are among the nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Kipruto won last year's race with a course record time of 2:02:16, leading a Kenyan sweep of the podium as Timothy Kiplagat and Vincent Kipkemoi finished second and third with times of 2:02:55 and 2:04:18 respectively.

The AIU has banned Careen Cheptoek (Kenyan) for 2 years from 19 February 2025 for presence/use of a prohibited substance (Methylprednisolone).

Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon was forced to withdraw from the 2025 Sirikwa Classic 10km race in Eldoret on Saturday, citing fatigue, as Agnes Jebet Ng’etich and Daniel Ebenyo claimed victory in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively.

The 30-year-old, fresh from winning the Kapsabet 15km Road Race, boasts outstanding performances on Austrian soil in 2021 and 2022.

His blistering run shattered the previous record of 57:30 set by Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha in 2024 by a staggering 49 seconds, the largest single improvement in the record's history.

The fourth edition of the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country is set for 22nd February 2025 at Lobo Village in Eldoret, promising a high-stakes showdown featuring top Kenyan and international athletes. Two-time world cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet and 10km world record holder Agnes Ng’etich are among the stars confirmed for the prestigious event. Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei has urged fans to turn up in large numbers to witness elite competition on home soil.

Kenyan marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been confirmed as the star attraction for the 2025 EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, set for March 9. Her participation raises excitement for the event, which will also host Portugal’s National Half Marathon Championship

The Commonwealth Games athletics programme is set for a major shake-up at Glasgow 2026, with the mile race making a return after six decades. The 1,500 metres has been scrapped in favour of the historic event, while organisers have also introduced a mixed 4x400m relay. With fewer sports on the roster due to limited preparation time, the revamped programme aims to maintain competitiveness while streamlining the event.

The 2025 Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championships will take place on 8 February at Eldoret Sports Club, following a venue change from the Kenya Prisons Training College. The event will bring together over 500 elite athletes, marking a key fixture in Kenya’s athletics calendar. This year’s edition introduces an afternoon race schedule, alongside entertainment and a medical camp. Athletics Kenya has also revamped the prize money structure, with the senior 10km winners set to earn Sh200,000.

Winny Chepng’etich Bii has once again raised the bar for Kenyan triple jump. The 21-year-old shattered her own national record with a leap of 13.92 metres at the New Mexico Team Open, surpassing her previous mark set earlier this year. As she continues to push boundaries, Bii now has her sights set on the elite 14-metre club and World Championships qualification.

Alex Matata delivered a career-best performance at the 2025 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, slashing 17 seconds off his personal best to claim victory in 59:20. The Kenyan outpaced Ethiopian Gemechu Dida in the final stretch, while pre-race favourite Isaia Lasoi settled for third.

Joyciline Jepkosgei is set to make her debut at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon this Saturday, with a strong Ethiopian challenge threatening the course record. With Ejgayehu Taye and Girmawit Gebrzihair in the mix, the stage is set for an intense contest on the fast, scenic Al Marjan Island course.

The 2025 World Athletics Championships are set to return to Tokyo for the first time in over three decades, with organisers unveiling the official motto, Every Second, Sugoi, and the event’s striking visual identity. While the Japanese term Sugoi translates to “amazing” or “extraordinary,” it has sparked particular interest in Kenya, sharing its name with President William Ruto’s hometown.

Eliud Kipchoge will return to the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, 27 April 2025. The 40-year-old will face a strong field as he looks to prove he can still compete at the highest level.

Letsile Tebogo, the reigning Olympic 200m champion, has hailed Kenya as the place where his journey to global stardom began. The Botswanan sprinter shared how his first major victory in Nairobi in 2021 set him on the path to making history as the first African to win Olympic gold in the 200m.

Athletics Kenya has introduced a mandatory registration system for all athletes and support personnel in a bid to enhance service delivery and streamline participation in competitions. Unregistered athletes will not be allowed to compete in any events, including cross-country, track and field, and road races. The federation has urged athletes to complete the process promptly to avoid disruptions.

Beatrice Chebet, Kenya’s double Olympic champion, ended 2024 on a high note by setting a new world record in the 5km at the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona. The 24-year-old clocked 13:54, smashing the previous mark by an incredible 19 seconds

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has sent CEO Sarah Shibutse on a 90-day compulsory leave over alleged financial mismanagement, as the agency faces scrutiny for procurement irregularities and unsupported payments.

The Deputy President further highlighted the role of sports in fostering national unity and praised athletes for their contributions to the country's success.

Sebastian Sawe’s marathon debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon was nothing short of historic. Clocking 2:02:05, the fastest marathon of the year, Sawe moved into fifth place on the all-time list, cementing his place among the greats.

Kenyan runner Emmaculate Anyango has been handed a six-year ban after testing positive for banned substances, including testosterone and EPO. Her results since February 2024 have been disqualified

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has thrown his weight behind Athletics Kenya’s bid to host the 2029 World Championships, aiming to make Kenya the first African nation to host the global event. Alongside his support, Murkomen announced a significant increase in funding for AK’s training camps, with a focus on nurturing youth talent from all corners of the country to elevate Kenya’s standing in international athletics.

Ruth Chepng’etich, a three-time Chicago Marathon champion, is Kenya’s sole finalist for the 2024 Athlete of the Year award after setting a new world record in the marathon this October.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi said substantial evidence, including CCTV footage, linked them to the killing.

Dutchman Abdi Nageeye claimed a thrilling victory in the New York City Marathon, pulling ahead in the final stretch to win in 2:07:39. Kenyan runner Sheila Chepkirui led a historic sweep of the women’s podium with her first major title in 2:24:35, while Evans Chebet narrowly missed a repeat win, finishing second after a gripping duel.

Olympic champion Tamirat Tola is set to make a significant mark in marathon history today as he attempts to break the world record at the New York City Marathon. Starting at 4:30 PM EAT, Tola aims to surpass the record of two hours and 35 seconds,

World U20 5,000m champion Andrew Alamisi is determined to secure a second victory in Iten at the upcoming Athletics Kenya Cross Country series scheduled for Saturday

After years focused solely on marathons, Eliud Kipchoge is making a notable shift back to shorter races. In a new partnership with Thailand, the legendary runner will compete in a 10km event at the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2024, marking his first non-marathon race since 2016.