Athletics

Athletics Kenya (AK) is set to use performances in Nairobi to select athletes who will represent the country at the international event scheduled for July 23 to August 2 in Scotland.

In addition to the suspension, all of Wanjiru's competitive results from January 16, 2024, have been disqualified. The sanctions include the forfeiture of medals, titles, ranking points and prize money earned during that period.

Cheruiyot rolled back the years with a stunning performance at the historic Bislett Stadium, winning the Dream Mile in 3:48.21 after a dramatic photo finish against American star Yared Nuguse.

The race, scheduled for May 23, 2027, will join an elite group of marathons that includes the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Sydney marathons.

Wanyonyi heads into the meeting, also known as the Bislett games, looking to bounce back from a second-place finish in Rabat on May 31.

Kipkemboi storms to a personal best while Kemuma delivers a composed victory as Kenyan runners dominate the fifth edition of the Nairobi City Marathon in chilly conditions.

The African record holder leads Kenya’s challenge in Rome, with Julius Yego and a strong distance-running contingent also targeting Diamond League success.

World Athletics will introduce a new four-way voting system in 2026, giving fans, athletes, media and the wider athletics community equal influence in selecting the sport’s top performers.

All eyes will once again be on Wanyonyi, who returns to Rabat looking to improve on last year’s meeting, where he finished third in a tightly contested 800m race behind Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela and Britain’s Max Burgin.

With Olympic champions, world record holders and marathon stars all converging on Central Park, the New York Mini 10K is shaping up as one of the most competitive women’s road races of the year and another major stage for Kenya’s distance running dominance.

Organisers confirmed that the event has reached full capacity at 17,000 entrants, rising from 15,000 athletes who competed in the 2025 edition, highlighting increased interest in the annual road race.

The 46-year-old clocked 2:25:44 in a highly competitive women’s elite race dominated by Ethiopian athletes, further underlining her remarkable longevity in long-distance running.

The squad was unveiled on Saturday after two days of intense national trials held on May 22 and 23 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where emerging middle-distance athletes competed for a place on the international team.

The moment will mark Grace’s marathon debut and one of the most personal chapters in Kipchoge’s decorated running career.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala turned the tables in the men’s 100m after finishing runner-up in Shanghai, winning in 9.94 seconds (0.2 m/s). He held off South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who clocked 10.00, with the United States’ Trayvon Bromell finishing third in 10.03 and Kenny Bednarek fourth in the same time.

Kipchoge emphasised that Africa deserves representation among the world’s biggest marathon races, given the continent’s rich history in long-distance running.

According to investigators, there were no irregularities in the testing or laboratory procedures that could have caused the positive results. Sang was formally notified of the charges on March 11 and immediately handed a provisional suspension pending the outcome of the case.

One of the most anticipated races of the evening will be the women’s 3000m steeplechase, where reigning world champion Faith Cherotich will renew her rivalry with Ugandan Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai.

Kipruto, who rose to global prominence after winning bronze in the men’s 10,000 metres at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and later setting a world record in the 10km road race in Valencia, had continued to insist throughout the proceedings that he never used banned substances or methods.

The Premium Weekend Meet, which had earlier been scheduled for May 29-30, will now be jointly conducted during the National Athletics Championships from June 18–20 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The series was unveiled at Sanctuary Mandela as the foundation marked 27 years since Mandela established the organisation and stepped down as South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

South Africa topped the medal table with 20 medals, including nine gold, three silver, and eight bronze. Kenya followed closely in second place with six gold, four silver, and seven bronze medals.

Jackson Tuwei has been appointed interim president of the Confederation of African Athletics following the death of long-serving leader Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, with elections set for 2027.

Kipyegon finished the race in 14:24.14 after a tightly contested finish that was decided in the final metres. Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw pushed her all the way to the line, finishing a close second in 14:24.21, while compatriot Senayet Getachew completed an all-East African podium in 14:24.71.

According to Korir, the trials will not be open to everyone, but will instead feature invited athletes identified through performances at the national primary and secondary school championships held earlier this year.

For Omanyala, it is a chance to confirm that his African sweep can translate into global authority. For Kipyegon, it is the first brick in another carefully built championship year.

Looking ahead, Chesang is already focused on building on his continental success as he targets a step up to the global stage at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, set for July 23 to August 2.

Athletics Kenya President, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, described Malboum as a transformational leader whose contribution helped raise the profile of African athletics internationally.

Melese suffered a sudden medical emergency while training. She was taken to a nearby hospital immediately, but doctors were unable to save her life.

Collins Kemboi retains his Geneva Marathon crown in a personal best as Kenya dominates the men’s race with an unprecedented top-five sweep.

The race will carry added significance for the Kenyan as she celebrates her 30th birthday on race day, a milestone that could provide extra motivation as she seeks to announce herself on the global marathon stage with a strong performance in Copenhagen.

The package, branded the “Champion’s Retreat,” is designed to offer the marathon star time to rest and celebrate while experiencing Kenya’s diverse tourism offerings.

The meeting marks the 12th time the two have faced each other on the Diamond League circuit in just four seasons, a remarkable frequency that underlines how closely matched and consistently dominant they have been. 

Cherargei urged the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to zero-rate winnings earned by athletes, arguing that such earnings should not be subjected to heavy taxation.

At State House, Nairobi, a red-carpet reception followed, complete with the Kenyan and East African anthems, before Sawe symbolically handed the national flag to President Ruto.

The long-distance runner made history in London after becoming the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours during an official race, clocking a remarkable record time of 1:59:30.

The rankings were decided using each athlete’s best three cross-country performance scores recorded between September 2025 and March 2026.

The milestone was celebrated worldwide, not just by athletics fans. It was considered at the time to be a similar achievement to scaling Mount Everest for the first time, which Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay had done the year before.

Sawe shaved 65 seconds off the previous world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 and became the first athlete to run a legal sub-two-hour marathon.

Obiri crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 2:15:53, continuing her strong run of success at the highest level of distance running.

Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to complete a sub-two-hour marathon in an official competitive race.

In his congratulatory message, Ruto hailed Sawe’s performance as a landmark achievement for Kenya and global athletics.

Sawe becomes the first athlete ever to run a sub-2-hour marathon in official race conditions, clocking 1:59:30.

Other contenders include Kenya’s Catherine Reline Amanang’ole, Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw, Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba and Uruguay’s Julia Paternain.

Reflecting on the moment, Omanyala admitted he knew victory was secured even before the race was over.

Coming off a strong run in Addis Ababa, the African record-holder is confident of delivering in front of the home crowd.

Korir’s victory also came with a significant financial reward, as he earned Sh19.4 million ($150,000) for winning the race.

Korir won the 2025 Boston Marathon in 2:04:45 before claiming success at the Chicago Marathon later that year.

According to the official website of World Athletics, the men's outdoor world record for 1,500 meters is 3 minutes and 26 seconds, set in 1998.

Defending champion Alex Matata successfully kept his title after clocking 60 minutes and one second.

World Athletics has rejected 11 athletes’ bids to represent Turkey, citing a coordinated, state-backed recruitment scheme that threatens eligibility rules and the integrity of international competition.