Were takes Nyayo by storm with meet record at Kip Keino Classic as Chelimo wins silver in 5000m

Commonwealth Games 4x400m relay bronze medallist Wiseman Were celebrates after winning the 2024 Kip Keino Classic.[Stafford Ondego,Standard]

Commonwealth Games 4x400m relay bronze medallist Wiseman Were clocked a meet record of 48.57 to win the men’s 400m hurdles at the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday, and effectively meeting the qualifying mark for the Paris Olympic Games.

In second place was Kipkorir Rotich who timed a season’s best of 50.39 whereas Edward Ngunjiri who clocked 50.84 – another season’s best.

Were, who will be making his debut at the Olympics, was short of words after his exemplary feat.

“I am happy to have qualified for the Olympics. I had prepared well and it is going to help my preparations for the World Relay Championships,” said Were.

Were is also part of Team Kenya’s contingent to next month’s World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas where he will be flying the national flag in the men’s 4x400m alongside Zablon Ekwam, David Sayanek, Boniface Mweresa, Brian Tenega, Moitalel Nadookila, Kelvin Kipkorir, Nathaniel Kipngetich and Kennedy Kimeu.

He was also part of the Kenyan team at March’s African Games in Accra, Ghana where he finished fourth in the men’s 400m.

Commonwealth Games 4x400m relay bronze medallist Wiseman Were celebrates after winning the 2024 Kip Keino Classic.[Stafford Ondego,Standard]

Meanwhile, World Cross Country Championships bronze medallist Margaret Chelimo was counting her blessings at the end of a scintillating race in the women’s 5000m at the Absa Kip Keino Classic in which she finished second.

Chelimo expressed satisfaction with her endurance levels, noting they have gone up a notch since the start of the year.

“Having finished third at the World Cross and second today at Kip Keino it means that my endurance level is okay and as I resume training I will work on speed,” the 2022 World 10,000m bronze medallist said.

Chelimo clocked 15:19.76, behind winner, World Cross Country junior champion Alemayo Marta of Ethiopia, who timed 15:14.54.

In third place was another Ethiopian, Nibret Lemlem, who clocked 15:20.99.

The race was Chelimo’s fourth of the year, following her bronze medal at last month’s World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia where she timed 31:09.