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Expect fast times at Ulinzi, sprinter Mweresa predicts
Absa Kip Keino Classic Competition Director Kennedy Tanui (right), Absa Bank Kenya Director, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Mwihaki Wachira (centre) and sprinter Boniface Mweresa during NTV’s SportOn! show on May 26, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The perimeter fence has been moved farther away from the tartan track and the shot put arch and hammer cage have been constructed.
- “The javelin runaway has been adjusted from 32m to 36m even though 35m is the standard measurement,” said Tanui.
Sprinter Boniface Mweresa has predicted that Saturday’s Absa Kip Keino Classic is likely to register some very fast times because to the venue -- Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Mweresa, a 31-year-old veteran who has run in virtually every corner of Kenya, observed that, Ulinzi Sports Complex is usually warmer in the afternoon compared to such venue as Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium.
“Ulinzi Complex is never windy in the afternoon and is always warmer compared to the morning period that is chilly.
That presents a good recipe for fast times,” said Mweresa at NTV’s sports talk show SportOn! on Monday night.
Mweresa, the 2023 Kenyan 200m champion, predicted that over five sprinters will clock world championships qualifying times on the Ulinzi track.
This year’s World Athletics Championships are scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Three Kenyan relay teams -- men’s 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x400m mixed- are assured of places at the world event after qualifying from the just ended World Athletics Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China.
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is the only sprinter to have attained the world championships qualifying standard of 10.00 seconds. He run 9.88 last year.
However, Mark Otieno has a favourable world ranking that can earn him a ticket if he maintains or improves his times.
Mweresa (62nd), Kevin Kipkorir (76th) and Samuel Toili (136th) can qualify through world ranking in 400m if they upheld or improve their current placing while USA-based Damaris Mutunga (68th) is the only ranked Kenyan in 400m.
“We are happy that World Athletics have certified Ulinzi Complex,” said Mweresa during the show hosted by Bernard Ndong and James Wokabi.
Also in the show were Absa Bank Kenya Director for Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mwihaki Wachira and Kip Keino Classic Competition Director, Kennedy Tanui.
“Several of us in the 400m will make it to Tokyo so as to avoid the calculations by attaining the qualifying standards of 44.85 seconds,” said Mweresa.
“This Kip Keino will record the fastest times ever,” he averred.
Mweresa, competed in 400m at 2017 London and 2023 Budapest world championships.
With three relay teams qualifying for the World Championships, Tanui said they had to work around the clock, burning the midnight oil to have Ulinzi Sports Complex certified by World Athletics.
Tanui disclosed that they had two options for Kip Keino Classic -- the Ulinzi Sports Complex and the Afraha Stadium, Nakuru after Nyayo became unavailable owing to renovation works on the facility.
Tanui said that experts have worked to fix the areas that World Athletics wanted adjusted.
The perimeter fence has been moved farther away from the tartan track and the shot put arch and hammer cage have been constructed.
“The javelin runaway has been adjusted from 32m to 36m even though 35m is the standard measurement,” said Tanui.
“We have just presented our last survey as required to World Athletics and all is well,” said Tanui.